VISIT REMEMBERED The Wall stretched on A wedge glistening in the rain Black as night ~ yet Softened by the names thereon We knew them not, but stood in awe Realizing their sacrifice ~ their gift ~ Our hearts would surely break to know These sons and daughters Husbands and wives and yes, mothers and fathers Loved by so many ~ their lives taken We prayed ~ our tears fell Watching as trembling hands Lovingly traced name after name Not wanting to leave this place of honor So connected in their grief Flowers were left in tribute American flags fluttered beside Photographs of families left behind Unused baseball tickets A worn canteen Young faces smiling, wearing jungle green Letters of love and poems of praise Children's drawings of thanks Rosaries of every color left with love No mistaking the dent in the earth Where someone knelt to pray And through this day and the hours to come Nature washed the wall with her tears As the names of more than 58,000 Echoed on the wind ~~~ God bless Them All ! Judith Patton Flynn Memorial Day, May, 29, 2000