This page is dedicated to the men and women
who gave their all, our KIA. And for those that
still await, the bells of freedoms to ring, our POW/MIA.
(Click on a thumbnail (small picture) to
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Arlington
National Cemetery
unofficial website
Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers
Marine Corp Memorial
also known as the
World War II Memorial
Iwo Jima
Korean War
Memorial
Vietnam
Veterans Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
THE "COLD" BLACK WALL
by La'Na Merrill Brown
Your name, upon that cold black wall,
seems lost among them all.
Your name, upon that cold black wall,
is etched in, oh, so small.
Your name, upon that cold black wall,
begins a shower of tears.
Your name, upon that cold black wall,
recalls my younger years.
Your name, upon that cold black wall,
is bittersweet to me.
Your name, upon that cold black wall,
reflects eternity.
Their names, upon that cold black wall,
so many more have died.
Their names, upon that cold black wall,
so many others cried.
Their names, upon that cold black wall,
seems just as hard to bear.
Their names, upon that cold black wall,
for others make me care.
Their names, upon that cold black wall,
meant it wasn't only you.
Their names, upon that cold black wall,
mean others suffered too.
The names, not on that cold black wall,
who watched their buddies die.
The names, not on that cold black wall,
who still, don't quite know why.
The names, not on that cold black wall,
whose lives will not be right.
The names, not on that cold black wall,
who silently, weep at night.
The names, not on that cold black wall,
who stand and shed their tears,
The names, not on that cold black wall,
who carry memories thru the years.
I gaze upon that cold black wall,
built for all to see.
I gaze upon that cold black wall
and peace comes over me.
While gazing on that bleak black wall,
I do not feel alone.
The names, etched on that warm black wall,
brought all our loved ones home.
6/14/89 L.M.B. (used with permission)
La'Na Brown is the sister of WILLIAM
F. MERRILL, who was killed in action on November 26, 1969. After returning home
from one of her visits to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, she took pen in hand and wrote
the above poem. This was her way of expressing her sorrow, grief and compassion not only
for her brother, but for all those names, etched for eternality upon "The Wall".
Her comfort comes from knowing that her brother was not alone, and that others in this
country felt the pain that she too was feeling.
Pause to Remember
