In His Own Words: Oaklyn Vietnam Vet On What Traveling Wall Means

OAKLYN, NJ — The following editorial was written by Vietnam War veteran and Oaklyn resident Rick Storino, ahead of Camden County’s four days of events in to honor Vietnam vets that will take place in early September. Storino served in Da Nang from 1970 to 1971.

“When the soldiers from Vietnam returned to their homes, there were no parades, no celebrations. So they built a Vietnam Memorial Wall themselves.”
-General William Westmoreland

Three questions:

1. What is the purpose of the Traveling Wall?
2. What doe the Traveling Wall mean to us, the Vietnam veterans?
3. Why is the Traveling Wall important?

What is the purpose of the Traveling Wall? I quote from the website of the Traveling Wall: “This Traveling Wall stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made during the Vietnam War. It was made for the purpose of healing and to rekindle friendships of fellow brothers, and to allow people to visit loved ones in their Hometown who otherwise may not be able to travel to Washington, D.C.”

What doe the Traveling Wall mean to us, the Vietnam veterans? For veterans, the meaning of this wall will be seen differently, depending on the experience and memories each individual has, and how they have been able to navigate their own feelings and fear. An old adage says “some of us left the war, but the war never left us.”

We were all so young, we put on a uniform and did what we were told! We did our duty! We did not run, or make excuses. For our efforts and dedication to serve our country at war, we were treated with contempt and disrespect. For all those years that have gone by, we remained silent and kept our dignity, holding back our resentments to ourselves.

It’s been over 50 years for some of us; that’s a long time to carry those feelings. Many of us, unfortunately, have never been able to fully cope. This wall encompasses a great relief within, but it also reminds us of our brothers and sisters that never made it back. The pain of memories and the joy of friendships from our war is reflected to us through that sacred granite.

As for myself, and many other Vietnam veterans, after all these years I never expected this to happen. We truly appreciate this long overdue honor.

Camden County has engaged this event to enable us Vietnam veterans and all veterans the chance to reunite and become one once more. To the freeholders of Camden County and to all the people who have put countless hours of time and energy, we say thank you!

Why is the Traveling Wall important? As of May 2018 there were 58,320 names, including eight women etched on that sacred granite. They’re not just numbers. Every one of those names is a life and story untold. The fathers who will never know the love of their wife and children, the sons and daughters who will never feel the embrace and the love of their mothers.

THE YOUNG MEN: 33,103 were under the age of 22. Over 8,000 were just 19 years young.
These young men will never know the passion of loving another person ever again.

To those who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see their faces, we feel the pain that our wall so enables us to do. We all, until we too pass on, will forever be haunted by the memory of these fallen heroes.

We must convey the courage and sacrifice made by our brothers and sisters for all to see.

With all Due respect,
Rick Storino, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 68, Somerdale, NJ
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 7334, Somerdale, NJ

See related:
4-Day Event Commemorates Vietnam War In Camden County
After 3 Tours In Vietnam, Collingswood HS Grad Still Helping Vets
NJ Vietnam Vet Opens Up About Service After Years Of Silence