Vets Pay Tribute At Virtual Vietnam Memorial Wall

This is very, very cool. Vietnam vets are now able to visit the Vietnam Memorial Wall without traveling across the country to do it! This from an article at CNN:

The virtual Wall, a project created by the National Archives and Footnote.com, brings the memorial to millions of American homes.
The Web site, unveiled last week, links names to casualty reports, historical documents and digital photographs, and allows users to leave online tributes to those who died.
Ten Vietnam veterans at an American Legion Post 911 in Atlanta, Georgia, gathered to test the online Wall for CNN.com. They said they believe the new Wall gives a face to each of the names, and helps keep their memories alive.
We can use that to help console people ... To help people realize that ... they are gone but they are not forgotten," Derico said.
"We can show it to you [online]. Your brother, your sister ... They're still there; they are being thought of and they are being treated with due respect."

That says it all..."they are being thought of and they are being treated with due respect."

What a wonderful new technological tool to honor our fallen veterans of the Vietnam War - hopefully countless Americans will be able to pay their respects to those who fought valiantly and proudly for this Land of ours.

Vets pay tribute to fallen comrades at virtual Vietnam wall

As some people searched the virtual Wall for people they knew, others shouted names from across the room, hoping someone would enter a search in the computer.
Some only knew the first names and hoped to match them with the database by unit or hometown.
As they found more names, the group grew in size, huddling closer together as they read the casualty report of the latest name.
For Robert Love, who served in Vietnam as a mechanic, being able to view the Wall with fellow comrades gives the memorial new meaning.
As he used the online version, he reflected on a trip to Washington, where he visited the Wall.
"I had so many different emotions; and then after a while, as you begin to look at the names on the wall, it overwhelms you," he said. "Then you realize that you could be up there, but by the grace of God you aren't."
As he sat with his fellow servicemen Friday, reflecting on the war and sharing memories of those who died, some of the pain eased.
As they located familiar names and learned more about them, the group's excitement grew. Everyone agreed that other veterans should know about the site, and they agreed to spread the word.

It's an excellent opportunity for them to come in and look back on what happened to them in Vietnam," Derico said. "For them to look back on the people they lost in Vietnam. And guess what? It may even shock them to the extent that they come back to reality."