Dad,
-
I would like for you to Meet. .
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On Behalf of the
United States America,
We Present to you this
Flag....
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On
Father's Day 1992,
I
visited The Vietnam Veterans Memorial,
also
known as The Wall.
I
was there in the presence of not only the 58,000+ who did not return home,
but with the Children whose fathers are ON THE WALL.
This
was my 3rd visit to Panel 55 East, the panel which represented May 5, 1968.
There I could see my dad's name, Eddie E. Chervony,
in my reflection along with the other 186 men who died on that sad day
in May. The other two were very special, however this visit I had
an introduction to make, that of my unborn child, my father's legacy.
For
as long as I could remember, I had always promised myself that if I had
a son, he would be named "Eddie" after my dad. Now, I was going to
give birth to a child who would be born 25 years after my father's death.
I saw the first images of "this child" on May 7, 1993.
May
7th has a special significance, however I did not realize what day it was.
The
day I had my sonogram, was 25 years to the day that we received the notification
from the Government that my father had been killed in action. I was 13
months old at the time and my mom was 19. May 7th, the day that forever
changed my mother, and our lives.
As
Father's Day approached, I knew I had to take a gift, so I decided to make
photocopies of my sonogram, frame them and give them to dad. However,
I knew that the TRUE GIFT was inside of me, and that teaching my CHILDREN
about their "Papa Eddie" would be the
greatest
gift that I would be able to offer to my father.
On
Father's Day 1993, I was accompanied to the Wall with over 300 children
who were there to Remember their fathers, along with family and friends.
We the Children, are known as Sons and Daughters
In Touch. At the base of Panel 55 East I placed my visible gift
along with a Red Rose.
WHY THE
RED ROSE??. . .signifying that daddy has come home to rest in peace, even
though his family had lost ITs PEACE.
There
I was, 6 months pregnant, standing a few feet away from the Wall, wishing
that I would have brought a small tape recorder to place behind MY GIFT.
The comments made by those who visited Panel 55 East. People were
attracted to it like a magnet, as the viewed the 'UNBORN CHILD' and read
the words from A DAUGHTER to A FATHER. I don't know if it is because
the sonogram signifies life and here we are at a Memorial that brings
the reality of DEATH into OUR LIVES.
In
1995 due to an unexpected flat tire,
I
went to a book store as my tire was being repaired. I saw a white
book w/ a folded flag on the cover and a POW/MIA bracelet on the flag with
the date, yes, May 7.
The
book was titled OFFERINGS at THE WALL. I began to look throughout
the book and saw that it had photographs of the "GIFTS TO THE WALL".
I thought I would look for a Table of Contents to see if there was any
order to the book. After the PREFACE, I thought I was dreaming when I saw
"MY SON's SONOGRAM". Eddie was with me, sitting quietly in his stroller...as
tears began to run down my face reading the words I had written.
The words did not appear on any of the pictures I had taken.
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"Happy
Father's Day- Dad
Here
are the first two images of your first grandchild.
I
don't know if it's a boy or a girl.
If
the baby is a boy- he'll be named after you.
Dad-
This child will know you-
Just
how I have grown to know and love you-
Even
though the last time I saw you
I
was only 4 months old.
I
love you Daddy-
Your
Daughter, Jeanette"
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On
Father's Day Weekend 1997, I had the opportunity of introducing MY SON,
Eddie to The Wall, another chapter in our life as a family.
The
book Offerings at The Wall has opened many doors for me, well I guess I
can say..."My Father's Death" has opened many doors for me AND I just can't
stand there and not walk through.
I
have made a commitment to my father that I will "educate others, so that
I will never have to attend a MEMORIAL dedication to my son, due to the
lessons unlearned" and a lesson from my mother, who is now with my father,
that her "sacrifice and silence was not ignored".
I
have a dream, we all have dreams. I have mine in my heart and on
paper and hope to see it come to pass very soon. This is a dream to OUR
FUTURE, OUR CHILDREN, OUR LEGACIES.
 THE
POEMS OF LINH DUY VO
I have had the pleasure of meeting Linh. He has
a poem also featured in the book Offerings At The Wall. This
book has brought us together via healing. Please read his poems and
share in his APPRECIATION FOR AMERICA AND TO THOSE WHO DIED IN HOPES TO
FREE HIS HOMELAND. His book of poetry is available with a portion
of the proceeds going to the the SDIT SoCal chapter. Below I have
included a poem not included in the book.
____________________________________
From Hue to
My Lai to the South China Sea
Oh God, who crossed Ben Hai River
when the ink on the Geneva Treaty
had not a chance to dry.
Who pushed their people into the jungles
beating the path, making
the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Who buried three thousand alive, mother
and child,
in the ditches in Hue,
my ancient town.
Tet Offensive, or breach of truce,
filled my whole country
with death and misery.
"Total Attack," as the evil Viet Cong
declared,
while they sniped at their enemy from
behind
the children and women
of My Lai,
that dismal morning in
March.
Oh God, the VC used my dear helpless
people
as their hostages,
pushing them before the
line of bullets,
forcing the children to
throw grenades at the Americans.
Who donned the cone hat on Jane Fonda,
hugging the big guns made
in the evil empire of Communism.
Who used the nine-year-old girl burned
with napalm
for the longest bout of
propaganda until she escaped.
Who breached the Peace treaty signed
in Paris
pushing a million out
of my motherland.
Every three refugees who made it to
freedom,
one died in the cold water
of the South China Sea.
Oh God, I don't know....
I don't know, God, please answer me...
Linh Duy Vo
(The Boy in the Poem)
Friday, 13 March 1998
(c)
www.vietvet.org/LVopoems.htm
SHARING is LOVING is THANKSGIVING is
HEALING
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