To the editor:

Several months ago there was a replica of the Vietnam Memorial set up in Hanley Falls. I knew I needed to drive there and pay my respects to these soldiers. There are over 58,000 names on the wall and I only knew one.

Being a man I didn't want to ask for assistance in locating one particular name. I read about one third of the names before reconsidering. There was a tent set up. Volunteers used large books and helped find each soldier's name and exact location of said name on the wall.

I'm glad I wore my darkest sunglasses that day. I don't remember if the sun was even shining, it is much easier to wipe tears from your eyes behind dark lenses.

In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, when our soldiers were returning to the United States, they were excoriated in the press and by fellow citizens. The troops were called "baby killers," "dopers," "losers," "scum" etc. There was the atrocity at My Lai and Lt. Calley served time for that crime. The bare-bones fact is our soldiers died so the rest of us folks could be safe in our homes, see our families everyday and take life as we all do, for granted. There are over 58,000 names on the wall and I only knew one.

In the town you live in, I'll guarantee there are many veterans that may even be your neighbors. They served in W.W. II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan. The age or sex of these soldiers is irrelevant. What is key is that you and I take time to offer our hand to them in friendship and thank each veteran for their service to our country. If you are shy and have difficulty in carrying on a conversation with a stranger, the hand shake and the thank you will put a smile on everyone's face.

I found the name I was looking for. I was two years younger than Daryl S. when he enlisted. I was 17 at that time and very ignorant about service or commitment to the army or our country.

I wish I would have stopped at Daryl's house and wished him well, joked around a little bit. I admired his courage, but I didn't tell him. I never saw him again. There are over 58,000 names on the wall and I only knew one.

Thank you Daryl S. for your service to our country. I'm 42 years late in thanking you. I apologize that it took so long.

I need to find my dark sunglasses again.

Clark Nafziger

Marshall