Vault of Priceless Vietnam Memorial Mementos Now Online

Items left at The Wall: Vault of priceless Vietnam Memorial mementos now online
FOX 2 St. Louis
BY TRIBUNE MEDIA
AUGUST 6, 2015

“When I reach out and touch their names on The Wall, I become a part of that memorial. I become a part of them again,” he said. “This is a healing place. It’s a place where I come to heal.”

WASHINGTON — Conversations that take place at The Wall, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Mall here, are reminders of how intense the memories, emotions and experiences are that this polished black granite wall stands to soothe and heal.

They’re also reminders of a new chapter in the memorial’s life that its founder hopes will help it to further enrich the country and its veterans.

“Combat wounded,” is how O’Donnald Parker describes himself.

The Washington, D.C. native served in Vietnam from January to December 1970, during which time he earned his Purple Heart. “Finger shot off,” he said, as he used his right pointer finger to point to the stub where his left pointer had been before a firefight north of Saigon 45 years ago. “Shot in the back of my hand here,” he said, while standing next to The Wall.

He also described why he visits the memorial multiple times a week, and looks at the names of his fallen comrades.

read more here