Last month the Sunset Hills Historical Society brought the Traveling Wall to St. Louis County for 4 days. It was open 24 hours per day and was visited at all hours. Visitors saw an 80% portable wall which looks a good deal like the actual wall in Washington, DC. One could fill out a request sheet and the location of the name was filled in by a volunteer sitting at a computer. Veterans could look at a large mounted map of Viet Nam and put colored pushpins where they served. Many gifts and souvenirs were left at the wall in memory of loved ones. There was a lovely wreath on a stand, and flags were in view in several places. Military guards were present 24 hours too. Young men from Mo Air Natl Guard and other units. Each evening there was a program and the night I was there it began to rain literally just as the evening's program began, so we moved into the Lindbergh High School auditorium. The Wall was on the parking lot, plenty of parking for visitors and a very nice space to accommodate many visitors. I believe in all there were something like 500 volunteers involved in bringing this wonderful memorial to the people of Missouri. I wanted you all to know of course that I visited Jerry Rawlings'
and Jeff Beardsley's names on the Wall, just as I have done in Washington, DC. The picture here is the two request sheets used to give me the location of the names.
I spent a full day and evening volunteering to help feed the many volunteers - we had pizza, fruit, cold drinks, breakfast sweets in the morning, sandwiches and such to sustain the soldiers and other volunteers constantly in attendance. Our classmate Frank West, himself a Vet, stopped by to say hello, which was a nice KHS treat! I had the pleasure of seeing several others whom I know and met many wonderful folks giving of their time and energy to assist the public as they paid their respects, mourned or simply visited out of a sense of history and honor. My friend Sandie Grassino was in charge of providing all the food for the volunteers and I'm so glad she asked me to help - I doubt anyone went hungry!
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