THE WALL OF FACES

You hung around with my Brother Steve and Loved my Mother like family. I remember once when you and my Brother came to lunch and you had both shaved your heads. You did it because you were leaving for the Marine Corps and my Brother did it because you did it. It was a really sad day when we got the news that you had died in that damned place called Vietnam. All of Forest Park stopped and paused for you. Many years later I went to Washington and visited the Vietnam memorial. I was just standing there and a park ranger came up and asked me if I was looking for someone's name. Your name was the only name that came to mind. He Said "From Forest Park, Georgia?" I said 'Yes". We were standing in front of your name. It was just a little higher than eye level. Did you lead me to your name? All told, Forest Park High School lost twelve people to that nasty useless war. Not one of your lives were a fair trade for it.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Kathie Bullard Eastman is moving. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

Dear PFC Stephen Campbell,
I hope your photo is put here because this is a wall of faces and yours should also be here. Thanks for your service as a Rifleman. Today is the last day of summer, and time has passed since this war. It is important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

Semper Fidelis, Marine.

Stephen was a good person who had a very big heart. I was considered an outcast because my mother was a divorcee. Steve was always kind and loving toward me. He could see through my silence and told me that I should not be ashamed of what I could do nothing about. He had his own family issues and I understood who he was and how he felt. We only talked a few times but I always felt safe around him. My good friend was his girlfriend or so she thought. After hearing that Steve had been killed I got a letter he wrote to me while he was on the front lines. It was sweet and I still feel a bit ashamed of not being nicer to him. My mother wanted us to stay to ourselves so not to be ridiculed and I wasn't allowed to spend time with him and I did fight her over her decision. I still feel guilty because I found after he died that he had been in love with me and never even hinted at it. He was just the nicest person I had ever met.