FROM THE OTHER SIDE
By Patrick Camunes

At first ...
there was no place for us to go to
until someone put up that Black Granite Wall.
Now,
almost everyday and night,my Brothers and
Sisters wait to see the many people from
places afar file in front of this Wall.
Many stopping briefly
and many for hours
and some
that come on a regular basis.
It was hard at first,
not that it's gotten any easier,
but
it seems that many of the attitudes towards
that war that we were involved in have changed.
I can only pray
that the ones on the other side
have learned something....
that Walls as this one needn't be built.
Several members of my unit and many that I
did not recognize have called me to the Wall
by touching my name that is engraved upon it.
The tears aren't necessary but are hard even
for me to hold back.
Don't feel guilty for not being with me, my Brothers.
This was my destiny
as it is yours,
to be on that side of the Wall.

Touch the Wall,
my Brothers,
so that we can share in the memories that we had.
I have learned to put the bad memories
aside and remember only the pleasant times
that we had together.
Tell our other Brothers
out there to come and visit me,
not to say Good Bye
but to say Hello and be together again,
even for a short time and to ease that
pain of loss that we all share.
Today,
an irresistible and loving call comes
from the Wall.
As I approach I can see an elderly lady
and as I get closer I recognize
her........
its Momma!
As much as I have
looked forward to this day, I have also
regretted it because I didn't know what
reaction I would have. Next to her, I
suddenly see my wife and immediately think
how hard it must have been for her to come to
this place and my mind floods with the
pleasant memories of 30 years past. There's a
young man in a military uniform standing
his arm around her......
My God!....
it's.....
it has to be my Son.
Look at him
trying to be the man,
without a tear in his eye.
I yearn to tell him how proud I am,
seeing him standing tall straight and proud
in his uniform.
Momma comes closer and touches the Wall and I
feel the soft and gentle touch I had not felt
in so many years. Dad has crossed to this
side of the Wall and through our touch, I try
to convey to her that Dad is doing fine and
is no longer suffering or feeling pain. I see
my wife's courage building as she sees Momma
touch the Wall and she approaches and lays
her hand on my waiting hand. All the
emotions, feelings and memories of three
decades past flash between our touch and I
tell her that it's all right. Carry on with
your life and don't worry about me......I can
see as I look into her eyes that she hears
and understands me and a big burden has been
lifted from her.
I watch as they lay flowers and other
memories of my past. My lucky charm that was
taken from me and sent to her by my CO, a
tattered and worn teddy bear that I can
barely remember as I grew up as a child and
several medals that I had earned and were
presented to my wife. One of them is the
Combat Infantry Badge that I am very proud of
and I notice that my son is also wearing this
medal. I had earned mine in the jungles of
Vietnam and he had probably earned his in the
deserts of Iraq.
I can tell that they are preparing to leave
and I try to take a mental picture of them
together, because I don't know when I will
see them again. I wouldn't blame them if they
were not to return and can only thank them
that I was not forgotten. My wife and Momma
near the Wall for one final touch and so many
years of indecision, fear and sorrow are let
go. As they turn to leave I feel my tears
that had not flowed for so many years, form
as if dew drops on the other side of the Wall.
They slowly move away with only a glance over
their shoulder.
My son suddenly stops
and
slowly returns.
He stands straight and proud
in front of me and snaps a salute.
Something makes him move to the Wall
and he puts his hand upon the Wall and touches my tears that
had formed on the face of the Wall and I can
tell that he senses my presence there and the
pride and the love that I have for him. He
falls to his knees and the tears flow from
his eyes and I try my best to reassure him
that it's all right and the tears do not make
him any less of a man.
As he moves back wiping the tears from his
eyes, he silently mouths,
God Bless you,Dad......
God Bless, YOU, Son......
We WILL meet someday
but in the meanwhile, go on your way......
There is no hurry.....
There is no hurry at all.
As I see them walk off in the
distance, I yell out to THEM and EVERYONE
there today, as loud as I can.........
THANKS FOR REMEMBERING
and as others on this side of
the Wall join in..... I notice that the U.S.
Flag, that so proudly flies in front of us
everyday, is flapping and standing proudly,
straight out in the wind today....
...... THANK YOU ALL FOR REMEMBERING!!!