dedication page

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 enlarge)

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

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 to was feeling.

Pause to Remember