THE WALL OF FACES

DEAR HOSPITALMAN BARRETT,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A HOSPITALMAN. THANKS FOR THE LIVES YOU SAVED. SEMPER FI. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE. ADVENT IS HERE, AND CHRISTMAS IS APPROACHING. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU. THE NEW YEAR IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, WHICH MAKES IT FAR TOO LONG FOR YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE.

Today, you died, 47 years ago. Today, I'm taking time to remember and honor all of you, every single one of you, who gave their lives, whether it was on this day or another. I thank you for your service to our country. God bless you and rest in peace.

In 1984 I painted a dedication painting to the Vietnam War. I was of a wall and a soldier in front. The wall names were composed of all names I came up with to represent the ethnic backgrounds of the men who served. I had always hidden my name in my paintings and I thought it would be funny to put myself on the wall. 2 years later a Vietnam vet was admiring the painting and said "Wow, is that your name on the wall?" I said yes and explained why. He looked confused and I ask what was wrong. He simply said, "I find it interesting that you think you deserve to be on the wall representing the Vietnam heros. I was startled and the following day destroyed the painting. I then started to do some homework and in 1987 created this paint to replace it. I used actual names off a section of the wall I had seen a photo of. I thought I now understood what I tried to paint. Well, Taylor and I went on a school trip in 1999-ish. I found the section of the wall and I was very emotional. At that time I also found on a website all the names and their history including where they died. It turns out that almost all the men I listed in my painting died the same day in the same battle. I was sure now I understood my own work. That was until my father showed me I understood nothing and added a poem to my painting that I think sums up what all these years I was trying to convey. Today while looking at that same website I found that the profiles of the soldiers was updated and I was finally able to put faces to the names I painted 27 years ago.

In 1984 I painted a dedication painting to the Vietnam War. I was of a wall and a soldier in front. The wall names were composed of all names I came up with to represent the ethnic backgrounds of the men who served. I had always hidden my name in my paintings and I thought it would be funny to put myself on the wall. 2 years later a Vietnam vet was admiring the painting and said "Wow, is that your name on the wall?" I said yes and explained why. He looked confused and I ask what was wrong. He simply said, "I find it interesting that you think you deserve to be on the wall representing the Vietnam heros. I was startled and the following day destroyed the painting. I then started to do some homework and in 1987 created this paint to replace it. I used actual names off a section of the wall I had seen a photo of. I thought I now understood what I tried to paint. Well, Taylor and I went on a school trip in 1999-ish. I found the section of the wall and I was very emotional. At that time I also found on a website all the names and their history including where they died. It turns out that almost all the men I listed in my painting died the same day in the same battle. I was sure now I understood my own work. That was until my father showed me I understood nothing and added a poem to my painting that I think sums up what all these years I was trying to convey. Today while looking at that same website I found that the profiles of the soldiers was updated and I was finally able to put faces to the names I painted 27 years ago. Todd Ferris

Thank you for your devotion to our Country and to your Marines.