Veterans, Visitors Moved by Vietnam Memorial Replica

He stood in front of the Vietnam Moving Wall with his hands in his coat pockets. The cold wind blew his graying hair. The man stood silently, staring at one panel, perhaps at one name.

He did not want to talk. He did not want to give his name. No photos, no glory, no attention. He just stood and stared as tears streamed down his face behind his sunglasses.

This unnamed person exemplifies the sadness surrounding the loss of more than 58,000 U.S. military personnel who died during the Vietnam War. 

To remember all those who served, about 40 men and a few women volunteered to install the memorial wall at the on Thursday. It is a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. 

"It means a lot because there were a lot of people who never got recognized for what they did," said American Legion Color Guard Service Officer Mark Galvan. "If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be the nation we are."

Galvan is one of many men taking shifts to stand guard. The wall must be guarded around the clock until it leaves Monday.

There are 74 panels of the wall, said Lisa Gray, with the Vietnam Combat Veterans. She is from White Pine, Mich., but has been traveling with the wall for seven years. They are on the road 28 to 32 weeks a year, she said.

As the wall was being installed, many veterans reminisced. Their tones were solemn. Many were fighting back the tears. 

"I have two brothers that served over there," said Casey Bleski, from Lockport. 

Bleski explained that he and his brothers Zigmund and Lester were all in the Army. Although he was drafted and earned the specialist five rank, he never made it to Vietnam. He served state-side. 

"I wanted to see (the memorial)," he said. "Maybe some of the guys I went through basic training or (advanced individual training) with, maybe I would see some of their names."

Like Bleski, many people came to the wall who served during the Vietnam War but did not see combat in Vietnam. Galvan, for example, was in the Army stationed in Bamberg, Germany. At the time, Czechoslovakia was ruled by the Communist Party. Some veterans, like Galvan, patrolled the German - Czech border.

Another Veteran, Allen Filip, served in the Navy aboard ship in Vietnam. He and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Manhattan. They came looking for one particular name.

"That's my cousin Jerome," he said as he pointed to the wall. 

"We go every time everywhere that they're at to see all of these names," Elizabeth said. "It's our freedom."

These are some very brave people, she said. "And we're losing more."

There were more than just veterans who volunteered to help set up the wall. John McCabe, from Orland, is a member of the Sons of the American Legion in New Lenox. He brought in a tow truck and stayed to help. 

After the Moving Wall leaves New Lenox, it heads to Ogdensburg, NY. It will return to Chicago June 16. The Traveling Wall's full schedule is updated regularly. 

To find a name on the wall, the Vietnam Combat Veterans offer a site with a chronological list of names. You can also get general assistance in finding a name.