Never Been Prouder of Faribault

I swelled with pride as I stood across from the Rice County Veterans Memorial on Wednesday to watch the escort of the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall arriving in Faribault.

The street was lined with scores of people waving flags and the number of vehicles escorting the Wall was incredible.

I didn't get an official tally, but there had to be at least 150 motorcycles and there were a number of classic vehicles and other vehicles like the International Brotherhood of Electrical Works Local Union 110 truck.

All were in front of the pickup carrying the trailer with The Wall inside.

After the procession went by me on Fourth Street, I hopped in my vehicle and went to the Rice County Fairgrounds where Traveling Wall Project co-chairman Kirk Mansfield had a welcome and overview of the happenings during the Traveling Wall's visit.

Mansfield told the veterans gathered:

"Make no mistake, and you let this burn in real deep, the culture you came home to is not the same as it is now. When you came home, some of you came home in the dark of night. You put those uniforms in a foot locker under your stairwell to be hidden for many, many years. I've said this multiple times to many, many people. I'm absolutely convinced that with what you had to deal with when you came home, you guys pretty much said not again, never again. You stood up and made sure your children and grandchildren didn't get treated the same way. That's why you see the culture is so much different now and the patriotism is much stronger than it was during your time.

 

"I hope you understand the commitment your community has for you with what you saw along the roadways today. There were many times I had to correct my driving because there were many instances where thank God I had glasses on so they couldn't see what was going on underneath but it was pretty heartwarming to see all that and I'm thankful you got to witness that first hand. For every Vietnam veteran here who served in country or during the Vietnam era, thank you and welcome home. Long overdue welcome home."

I saw in the crowd of Vietnam veterans a few guys choke back tears and some couldn't hold them back after Manfield concluded his welcome.

They didn't hear those words 45 or 50 years ago, and that's why I'm so proud of Faribault and all those areas where people lined the processional route from Owatonna to Faribault.

The Wall will be erected beginning at 7AM Thursday, and Mansfield noted they could use lots of volunteers to help with its erection.

At the Vietnam Memorial Wall Replica, remember it's hallowed ground so please:

• No smoking
• No food or drink
• Keep your voices down
• No horse play
• No pets, except service animals
• Limit cell phone use

If you feel the need to speak with a counselor, the service will be available and all you have to do is contact any of the Wall volunteers.

Vietnam Memorial Wall statistics as printed in the program to be used:

• The youngest Vietnam KIA is believed to be Dan Bullock at 15 years old
• The oldest person on the Wall is Dwaine McGriff at 63 years old
• At least five men killed in Vietnam were 16 years old
• At least 12 men killed in Vietnam were 17 years old
• There are 120 people who listed foreign countries as their home of record
• At least 25,000 of those killed were 20 or younger
• More than 17,000 of those killed were married
• Military members killed on their first day in Vietnam 997 (Unconfirmed)
• Military members killed on their last day in Vietnam 1,448 (Unconfirmed)
• Number of chaplains on the Wall: 16 (two Medal of Honor)
• Number of women on the Wall: 8 (7 Army, 1 USAF, 7,484 served)
• There are 226 Native Americans on the Memorial Wall
• There are 22 countries represented on the Memorial Wall
• Most common name on the Memorial Wall: "Smith" with 667
• The most casualties in a single day was January 31, 1968, with 245
• The most casualties for a single month was May 1968 with 2,415

There will be two fields of crosses on display.

The first field of crosses are Vietnam veterans killed in action from these six Faribault-area counties:

• Rice
• Goodhue
• Steele
• Waseca
• Le Sueur
• Dodge

The second field has 100 crosses, all individuals from Minnesota killed in action in Afghanistan and Iraq since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

All the crosses include a name and picture of the fallen hero.

Organizers are hoping for about 20,000 people to stop by the Vietnam Memorial Wall Replica on the Rice County Fairgrounds this Thursday through Labor Day.

Judging by the turnout along the processional route, I believe they will exceed that goal.

We should all go as a fitting tribute to the now 58,300 American military personnel who were direct casualties of the war. A few minutes or even an hour or two of our time pales in comparison to their sacrifice for us.

Remember, "All gave some. But some gave all."