As I approached the Vietnam Wall, the sound of a woman’s voice reading the names pierced my heart and told me I had come to the right place.

Slowly, I joined the stream of people moving past the names of more than 58,000 men and woman who died or are missing in Vietnam. Along the way a volunteer asked, “Do you need help finding a name?” Hoping she was unable to see through my sunglasses the tears in my eyes, I struggled to whisper, “No, thank you. I just came to remember.”

She smiled; I bowed my head. For though it wasn’t the name of my mother, father, husband, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, neighbor or best friend, I still grieve their loss and appreciate their sacrifice.

Thank you, Pastor Siler, Mrs. Pat Brown, Sgt. Pauls, Sgt. Hosier, supporters and volunteers for sharing your healing stories songs, prayers and hearts with us at the Candlelight Ceremony.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who made my visit to the Memorial Vietnam Wall a healing experience. Claire Davis Thousand Oaks