moving wall...

The Vietnam Wall that has been traveling all over the country has found a home: here in Columbus, GA adjacent to the Infantry Museum. It was dedicated this morning, with appropriate pomp and circumstance. There was a graduation of four newly Infantry platoons, on the parade ground immediately behind the museum. Then all the new soldiers, moms, dads, lots of Vietnam Vets and assorted on-lookers and passers-by were invited to move from the parade grounds to the newly installed moving wall.

It will be in Columbus for at least five years, though an agreement between the museum and the Dignity Corp., that had the Wall built and has been trucking it around the country for the past twenty years. The Dignity people are, you might not know, part of a huge chain of funeral  homes and cemeteries. The Speaker for the dedication of the Wall was a man who is a Medal of Honor recipient, twenty year veteran of the Army, currently an instructor at West Point Military Academy.  Col. Jack Jacobs, retired. He was a delight to listen to as he has had a remarkable life, both in his military career and in the years since he separated from the Army. The general who introduced the colonel said he loves to walk down the hallway when this man is teaching and here the laughter as well as questions/conversations he brings out in the students in his classes.

I think the Army tries to plan graduations of newly minted Infantry to coincide with other events that bring people to the museum. Thereby benefiting both the visitors to the Infantry Center Museum who have an opportunity to see these young men who are the future of our all volunteer Army - and the new soldiers and parents/family members who are there in support of their off-spring at the graduation from basic training. There was a really good crowd in attendance. Cant' say how many were family members, coming to see these young men 'turn blue' when they get their .Infantry pins, and how many were there just for the dedication of the wall. But I'm glad I went: you know how sappy I can get when the Army Band starts on those John Phillip Sousa marches...