THE WALL OF FACES

In loving memory on Veteran's Day

I teach fifth grade and gave my students an assignment to thank a veteran on Memorial Day. I figured I'd thank you, Bobby, postumously as it may be.
Happy Memorial Day.

FOREVER REMEMBERED

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them....
Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind...."

Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell
KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces.

We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you, one of the gentle heroes lost to the War in Vietnam:

Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother.

From your Nam-Band-Of-Brothers

thank you, so others may live

I have no recollection of meeting Robert, or Bob, as I presume he went by. I grew up in New Hyde Park, as well, and knew Art Palenscar, whom I think was Bob's younger brother. The several times I visited the Wall in DC I looked for Bob's name. Finding it, I felt a great sadness as he and I both knew what it was like growing up in NHP. I recall Bob is also memorialized on a plaque in the back of Notre Dame Church there, which is where I first learned of his death. I was born in 1953, and have no memory of ever hearing about his death till many years later on seeing his name on this plaque. I hope someone posts a pic of Bob here, perhaps of his hanging out in the neighborhood -- Memorial Park or Memorial High School.

Gerry Regan <[email protected]>, Astoria NY (Holy Cross HS, Class of '71)