The span is enormous. The wall shows the true cost of war. Tiny mometos were placed all along the wall; mostly flowers and photos. People were crying most everywhere. Some people ran their fingers over the engraved names as they spoke or wept.

I began to read the names on the wall. Row by row I read. Then I began to skip around, until finally I was too overwhelmed to read any longer.

I’ve also been to the traveling wall. While also powerful, it is not nearly the size of the wall in D.C. It is also worth visiting.

To me, the great irony of the wall is the beautiful layout of the structure. The water flowing, the reflective granite, trees surrounding the clearing. I guess that is the irony of all memorials; beauty to commemorate the horrors or war, surrounding all the sadness and tears of memories.