PHOTOGRAPHY | CHALLENGE
Honoring the Unsurpassed Valor of 58,000 Men and Women
April Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Reflect”
Our city honors Vietnam War veterans
Chevie Hanssler’s story, The Wall That Heals inspired this post.
Since I picked up a camera about a dozen years ago, I’ve routinely photographed events in my hometown. Parades, festivals, devastating fires, nothing is off limits for me.
It was a no-brainer for me to photograph The Wall That Heals when it came to our fair city a few years ago. I’ve visited the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C., and I can say that, except for the location and size of the traveling Wall, visiting both is a moving experience.
When the traveling Wall visits a community, it becomes much more personal. Many people cannot see the Wall in D.C., making the traveling Wall a more profound experience.
Daily events commemorated the Wall’s temporary home during its four-day tenure in our city. I was on hand to photograph each day. Out of some 1,200 photos, I chose one of a man — a Vietnam veteran — whom I was privileged to call a friend. Richard passed in 2022, and I remember him fondly each time I see this image.
