Editor:

We citizens of southeastern Arizona were honored this past week to host the traveling 80-percent model of the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Several ceremonies were held throughout the event, and many local folks kicked in and participated, some as a part of the exhibit and more as proud, patriotic visitors.

Graham and Greenlee counties were well represented and sorely hurt in this war. Many friends and relatives of those who lost their lives in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan were guests over the time of this great honor. I made two trips to see the exhibit, one on Wednesday evening, afer dark, and the next on Friday in the midafternoon. I was also impressed and gladdened by the memorial dedicated to the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, an array of displays, each filled with the dog tags of the fallen in shiny brass.

Among the visitors to the wall was my friend and neighbor, Terry, a correctional officer, who lost his dad to Vietnam when he was only 3. Terry only recently learned his dad’s fate. Another visitor was Tony, another friend of mine, a disabled veteran who is active in various veterans’ projects in our area.

The volunteers at the Information Center answered questions and operated the computers, helping to locate the site on the wall where specific warriors were memorialized. Once again, I personally thank, as I am sure all the citizens of southeast Arizona do, the various government employees, the prisoners (who didn’t need to be “chained,” Joe!), the volunteers and the many visitors for making this a successful event for the upper Gila River Valley. We thank you!

Adios,

Norm Johnson

Safford

Editor’s Note: The Courier mistakenly ran an old Norm Johnson letter in its last edition. We apologize to Mr. Johnson and thank him for his regular letter contributions to the Courier.