Replica Of Vietnam War Memorial Touches Local Veteran

The American Veterans Traveling Tribute, a replica of the Vietnam Wall War Memorial, stopped in Henryetta Wednesday, and the community held a welcoming ceremony for its arrival.

The traveling memorial lists the more than 58,000 names of those who died in the Vietnam War - 19 of those were from Okmulgee County - and one local Navy veteran shared what it meant to him to see the wall.

“I think I'd have to be dead not to feel anything,” Alfonso Mogana said while wiping a tear away.

Mogana has never had the chance to see the wall before, and he isn't sure he'll be able to recognize any names when it goes up in Henryetta, but said it will touch him all the same as he hopes it will others.

“It's a reminder for everybody what was going on there. And because that was an unpleasant war that a lot of people didn't like," he said.

Flags are in place along with a burning flame to welcome the wall and its thousands upon thousands of names of those who lost their lives fighting in Vietnam.

“A lot of veterans felt it when they got back. They didn't really like us, called us names, threw rotten stuff at us, so it kind of heals a little bit,” Mogana said.

It's a healing that comes with names recognized on a wall, and with a flame, calling those lost to come home.

The healing comes with a simple greeting that Mogana said he never got when he came home.

“It really picks up my spirits now to have somebody come up to me and say ‘Thank you for serving and welcome home.' It kind of brings tears to my eyes,” he said.

Mogana said the feeling is good, but also bittersweet, knowing that so many names and faces never got to come home.

The wall will go up Thursday morning before noon and stay until Sunday. It's located at Henryetta High School track and field area west of town.