Young learn about war from Teach Vietnam Veterans Network

Young learn about war from Teach Vietnam Veterans Network
by Donna Teresa

Everyone has those special moments that mark the personal journey of where you have been and what you have become as an individual.

For me, being a part of the Class of 2005 Teach Vietnam Veterans Network, has played a key role in inspiring me to be a veteran's advocate. I didn't want to join anyone's anti-war or pro-war platform. All I wanted to do was help veterans who I felt were not appreciated enough.

I also had a strong desire to be a part of this group when I noticed the lack of participation of young people at veterans events…

I even started randomly asking children I knew some questions, already knowing the answer I was to receive: What is a veteran? Do you know what Memorial Day means? Did you know that in Monterey County alone, that 78 young men were killed in the Vietnam War? How many of you have ever visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Salinas?

From the blank stares and head-scratching, I knew answers were not enough. I knew at that moment, I had to join this group.

This month, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of The Wall in Washington, D.C. For the founder of The Wall, Jan Scruggs, this moment is a milestone.

"This moment is a historic commemoration of the nation," Scruggs said. "After a divisive military conflict, The Wall helped bring about national healing and recognition for the veterans. I am personally pleased to have played a role in this."

The years pass, but the numbers of those who come to visit The Wall continue to grow. The Wall has become the most visited memorial in the U.S. This memorial has become a place that you can't quite put into words unless you've been there.

"The Wall is a place of healing for all Americans, where they can stop and remember the brave souls who fought for their country," said Scruggs. "For people with loved ones named on The Wall, it is even more special. It's a place where they come to feel close to the person they lost. I think this is why people leave items there, letters, poems, flowers and every item imaginable. The National Park Service archives these items, and the collection recently exceeded 100,000."

In addition, a new educational center will open to the public in a few years and will be built close to The Wall for visitors of this great monument.

To Scruggs, the Teach Vietnam Network has felt the impact of the program in many ways.

"Today's school children were not even born when the Vietnam War took place or when The Wall was built. I want the Vietnam War to be more than a chapter in a history book to them. Through The Wall and the Memorial Center, I want to tell our nation's youth about the brave people who fought and died for their country and who, like them, were not much older than they are now."

A big thank you to the students of Monterey Park School, Mission Park School, Henry F. Kammann School, Roosevelt School, Spreckels School, Buena Vista Middle School in Salinas and to the many Girl Scout groups who have joined me these last few years in helping remember our veterans at local events, holidays and by sending care packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Your participation has meant so much to our veterans and their families. To Jan Scruggs and Maya Lin, thank you for inspiring the healing that still continues today and forever for generations to come.

If your school is interested in the Teach Vietnam Network program, please send me an e-mail.

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