gone but not forgotten by Christopher Ewing
This is a shot taken at the Vietnam’s Memorial wall. I was only a kid when that war went on, but this wall holds a special place in my heart. A few years ago in Memphis TN, the moveable memorial wall had come into town. It was at a time when my back was injured and I wasnt able to work. Going stir crazy staying at home being able to do nothing I ended up being a volunteer for the weekend. Helping the men find their buddies on the wall, doing sketches of the names that were there (you take a charcoal pen, a piece of paper and sketch the name), and just listening to the men and women that went thru that battle that, for the time, most didnt want to call it a war.
This really touched me deep inside, watching grown men cry til their bodies shivered. I got to a point I hated finding a buddy in the book of over 58,000 names because I knew the outcome of the person asking. They wanted to know but then again they didnt. And you can bet, it did bring tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat I didnt think would ever leave.
It was a serious new light about this war that so many were against. It’s a shame our soliders came home to people spitting on them and calling them names..instead of just saying..Welcome Home and Thanks for all you have done.
So it was a definite must to have gone to this wall, and capture the people who were so silent walking past the many names that are there.
So to you Vietnam Vets, the only thing I can say to you is…..
Welcome Home.
Shot this in SS priority, SS at 1/250, Fstop at F14, exposure comp at 0, ISO at 200
Tags
christopher, washington, dc, vet, veteran, ewing, gone but not forgotten
Comments
Thank you for posting this Chris….my husband is a Vietnam Vet…it means a lot!
Cool Picture, very touching!
very touching,dawnx
Excellent work on this. Perfect capture of the reflections and the composition is great as well. Let’s hope the troops that return home after the current unpopular war are treated better than those from the Vietnam era.
WONDERFUL Chris…this is the only word I can think of to say.
Your words at this particular time have moved me to tears for the second time today.Poigniant and beautifully composed to sit beside this awesome memorial.
Thankyou Chris for so very much.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Chris this is a remarkable tribute – a long overdue honor for men who gave so much and whose service was often dismissed and hated. It’s not a political statement to say they deserved – and deserve -better, regardless of one’s views on war or this particular war. Both my husband and my brother were Vietnam Vets and many of their buddies’ names are etched on that wall. I appreciate more than I can say the honor you’ve done to them and to the survivors – if my husband were alive I know he’d be in tears too. But I very definitely will bring your amazing work to my brother’s attention. Thank you Chris.
this spot is so emotional, no one can know unless they stand there, yet your words expressed it so well…Bob and I took our trip to Washington Dc on a memorial day weekend , not knowing the impact of being there on that particular weekend! The line to this wall was unreal, and the emotion for others, and my Bob finding people that were in ther past life is indescribable. The wall tribute is the strongest i have ever witnessed anywhere…
your perspective on this is well done.
A wonderful tribute Chris. Very touching and made me tear up too.
Great tribute. Thanks for sharing.
Such a special tribute……….beautiful work Christopher……….. xo