The Washington Post ran a great story on Veterans Day marking the twenty fifth anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington.

Thousands of graying Vietnam veterans, many clad in jungle boots and old fatigues, marched down Constitution Avenue yesterday to mark the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and to pay tribute to the more than 58,000 war dead enshrined on the Wall.

It was a moving time for our Vietnam Veterans, and the Memorial rightfully pays tribute to veterans who fought in one of the toughest war theaters in our history.

Along the way, the marchers waved to the crowds, smoked cigars, laughed, hugged and, more than three decades after the close of the war, wept over the memory of those named on the Wall.

Hundreds walked the few blocks to the Wall when the parade ended to listen to a reading of the names or to touch the name of a comrade engraved in the stone. The site was thronged late into the afternoon, and here and there a veteran could be seen caressing the black surface or simply overcome with emotion.

We celebrated Veterans Day in Methuen with a parade and a memorial service. My thanks to Francesco Urena, the Veterans Agent of the City of Lawrence, who brought Andy Jimenez, the father of Lawrence soldier Alex Jimenez, who has been missing in Iraq since May, along with Mick Fouty of Michigan, whose son Byron Fouty is also MIA in Iraq. To have both fathers there was an honor and very emotional for the large group gathered to honor our veterans.

Link to the Washington Post story here.

Link to the video celebrating the Vietnam Veterans Memorial here.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/player/wpniplayer_viral.swf?vid=110907-19v_title