August 24-27, 2017 Mirabeau Meadows in the Spokane Valley

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1 Memories August 24-27, 2017 Mirabeau Meadows in the Spokane Valley

2 Thank you Over 13,500 people visited The Wall That Heals, a 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, along with a mobile Education Center, during its four-day stay in Spokane Valley. Thousands were able to find friends and relatives names on The Wall, honor them, and share their stories with other vets and volunteers. 350 attended the moving opening ceremony on Thursday. Over 200 volunteers made the event possible, escorting the truck carrying the Wall through the Spokane area, setting-up, and helping visitors around the clock until the final Taps was sounded on Sunday evening. Volunteers from Spokane Veterans Forum read the names of 244 people from the Inland Northwest who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. The Flags for the Fallen paid tribute to their memory. The Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association of Washington brought a Huey helicopter to the event to educate young and old about its iconic role in the Vietnam War. The Spokane Vets Center provided around-the-clock counseling for anyone in need. KSPS thanks the generous corporate sponsors and the hundreds of volunteers from numerous veterans groups in our community, as well as individuals and families who wanted to do their part in support of our vets. Your dedication and service made The Wall That Heals visit to Spokane a success.

3 Late at night, I met a Vietnam Vet named David. He was there with his PTSD service dog Rumble, and told me he had been a tunnel rat during the war. Most of the guys in his unit had died and he had plenty of bad memories. He said it was important for his healing to visit The Wall whenever he could, and each time it gets a little easier. He said the hardest part was deciding to take that first step toward The Wall, and it helps to have someone walk up with you. He was waiting near the parking lot because he wanted to be there in case a fellow vet needed someone to walk up with them. THE WALL THAT HEALS - SPOKANE

4 I talked with a woman who brought her Vietnam Vet father to The Wall. She said he had never spoken about his war experiences before, and visiting The Wall That Heals was a healing experience for him. She was so grateful to everyone who put this on. 2 THE WALL THAT HEALS - SPOKANE 2017

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6 The cousin of Arthur J. Rambo came to visit the wall and spoke of how the name of his cousin from Libby, Montana was used for the movie. 4 THE WALL THAT HEALS - SPOKANE 2017

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8 A woman informed us that she was visiting for David M Bradley, who was on the wall. His family had all passed away before he left for Vietnam, all under hard circumstances. He was buried by the woman s parents. She has adopted him and takes something for him every time she visits. He was known as Michael to her in high school. 6 THE WALL THAT HEALS - SPOKANE 2017

9 A Woman and her sister had the chance to grow up with Vincent R. Kotarski, Jr. as their babysitter, and regarded him as the best babysitter ever! He also helped with building a 10x10 doll house which led up to the same size tree house - with carpeting! He often came and visited them when he was on leave from the service. Their father was a retired Marine, but he welcomed Navy & Army men to his home. THE WALL THAT HEALS - SPOKANE

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11 One soldier s story as told to me - his name was Eugene D. Smith and meets another soldier named Eugene D. Smith (different middle names). As they were commenting on having the same name over a relaxing cup of coffee, a sniper s bullet kills his new buddy. This solder teared up and said That bullet was meant for me. I said, No, it was a sniper s bullet. You could tell he has carried this guilt for about 50 years. THE WALL THAT HEALS - SPOKANE

12 Warren left a drawing of 911 for Steven Kearns. He had written a note on the back for him. Warren had a list of 10 names of men from his unit to find. He found them all. 10 THE WALL THAT HEALS - SPOKANE 2017

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15 Allen Dorfman approached us with a helmet in a plastic bag and a book that he wrote. He let us know that the helmet was from a Viet Cong soldier and wanted to have it returned to the family of the man. He said that he wrote a fictional book about the war, and there was a chapter in the book about the helmet. He seemed relieved to let the helmet go. THE WALL THAT HEALS - SPOKANE

16 I was struck by how many pacifists I met. On the subject of America s constant state of war, I thought I d meet more hawks. Every vet I spoke to just wants war to be over. 14 THE WALL THAT HEALS - SPOKANE 2017

17 Lt. Col McLean, who flew 44 missions as a flight nurse, traversed the length of the Wall in a wheelchair. At one point she saw names she recognized and recounted one mission in which all the patients died. Now in her 80 s she still wakes in the night crying. She said that seeing the 58,000 + names on the Wall and the crowd gathered, let her know that people care, and that somehow it was now okay. THE WALL THAT HEALS - SPOKANE

18 From a Vietnam Vet who was a Wall volunteer: The quick version is it turns out I witnessed the plane crash that killed Mike Wirt s (Wall volunteer) brother Dennis, October 3rd, I would said this was a once in a life time experience except that there was another Spokane boy, a Jerry Pierce, killed in that same crash and ironically his cousin worked with me and one day said You were are Vietnam vet weren t you? My cousin was killed in a plane crash in Vietnam and... It made it all worthwhile. 16 THE WALL THAT HEALS - SPOKANE 2017

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20 Thank you to our supporters