Crowds flock to see replica Vietnam Veterans Memorial

No matter how we treated them, no matter how we ignored them they did overcome. Older generations of veterans wanted nothing to do with them. They overcame that and then started their own groups to take care of each other. Then they took on the fight for all veterans to be taken care of. The newer generation is treated with a lot better care and appreciation because of what they went through. These men and women have always been remarkable and this nation is a lot better off for them having been here.

Forrest Cormany plays "Amazing Grace" on his bagpipes for the "Clearing of the Wall" during the Opening Ceremony for the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier on Tuesday March 23, 2010. The wall is a three-quarter-scale traveling exhibition replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.The 8-foot tall, 240-foot-long replica is inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 service members who died or are missing in Vietnam. The wall will remain on display, 24 hours a day, through March 30.(SGVN/Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger/SWCity)

"We overcame that disrespect, that disregard," Ramos said.

Crowds flock to see replica Vietnam Veterans Memorial
By Ruby Gonzales Staff Writer
Posted: 03/23/2010 08:10:45 PM PDT

WHITTIER - John Perez of Pico Rivera once more stood before a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to thank his friends and the medic who treated his wounds in October 1968.

"I come here just to honor my friends and there's one special name I come to see, Robert Haig. He patched me up when I got wounded. When I came back, he was killed," Perez said.

The Army veteran was among hundreds to attend Tuesday's opening ceremony at Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary for the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall, which is a three-quarter-size copy of the memorial in Washington, D.C.
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