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It was an evening of gratitude, grief, and remembrance on Aug. 14 as more than 300 members of the Franklin County community and beyond gathered for the opening of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall in the Winchester City Park.

The replica monument, which is just over half the size of the original Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall located in Washington, D.C., was on display in the City Park from Aug. 14 through Tuesday morning.

In an effort to pay respects in the most honorable way, the city of Winchester and sponsors of the memorial organized a caravan for the wall’s journey from Monteagle to Winchester on Aug. 13.

In spite of unrelenting rain, more than 33 motorcycles showed up as escorts, and families and students braved the weather to watch the memorial slowly ride by. Rain-soaked crews and volunteers worked tirelessly to prepare the park grounds for the assembly of the wall and the ceremony that would follow the next day.

Among those in attendance at Thursday’s ceremony were U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, State Sen. Janice Bowling, State Rep. Iris Rudder, Franklin County Mayor Chris Guess, Winchester Mayor Sean Crabtree and Tennessee Commissioner of Veteran Affairs Maj. Gen. Tommy H. Baker.

Country musician Buddy Jewel provided entertainment at the beginning of the ceremony, which was kicked off by a flyover of two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

Guest speaker Capt. William A. Robinson, a Vietnam veteran, was the featured guest of the evening.

Robinson enlisted in the United States Air Force on Nov. 22, 1961, and was trained as a helicopter maintenance technician.

During his service, he served as a crew chief for multiple air squadrons and was deployed to Thailand in 1965. 

On Sept. 20, 1965, Robinson was involved in a helicopter crash during a rescue mission over North Vietnam and was captured and taken as a prisoner of war.

During his time as a POW, Robinson, along with two other enlisted POWs, was granted a battlefield commission in 1969 as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, which was made official by then-President Richard Nixon on April 9, 1973.

After spending 2,703 days in captivity, Robinson was released during Operation Homecoming on Feb. 12, 1973.   

Robinson began his speech with a verse from the Bible, Psalm 23. He stated that when the names on the wall were finally laid to rest, the last thing they heard before they died in a fellow veteran’s arms was Psalm 23. 

Somberly, Robinson recited the Bible verse and then stated what an honor it was to speak at the ceremony and honor the fallen.   

“It is indeed an honor to be here and remember those on that wall,” Robinson said. “This traveling wall is very special, and we’d like to thank those who put forth 150 percent effort to make sure this goes off without a hitch.”

Robinson added that the wall helps people remember not only those who lost their lives in the Vietnam War but the families of the departed and the burdens they carried.

Robinson said that he hoped that the stories of service and sacrifice from Vietnam veterans and their families will long be remembered.

“Some lived out a full life after their service to the country — living out the American dream,” stated Robinson.  “Others had their lives shortened by the scars of war. The ones on this wall gave up their tomorrows so we could have ours. We honor them. We thank them.  Most importantly, we remember them and their families.”

Robinson continued by saying: “Also remember, a warrior dies twice — once when he meets death and the second time when we forget his or her name. No greater love does one have than to lay down his or her life for another.”

Robinson told the story of his grandfather taking him to see a war memorial in his hometown as a little boy.

After a long silence, his grandfather explained to him that the memorial was dedicated to the soldiers from his small hometown that had lost their lives during World War II. 

“They were continental workers.  Some lied about their age to join the service,” Robinson said. “They left high school at a very young age to go fight for the freedoms that we are so familiar with.”

He said that as he and his grandfather looked over the names, he realized that he had known some of the people who had donned the uniform, noticing that someone who had lived just across the street from him had lost his twin brother to the war.

Fast-forwarding to Robinson’s generation, the Vietnam Memorial Wall took the veteran back to that moment he shared with his grandfather as a young boy. 

“We look at this wall, and there’s over 1,500 that were missing in action or unaccounted for in a country that’s so small,” Robinson said. “They join almost 80,000 from other wars who have yet to be accounted for, and it is our utmost responsibility to ensure that we have the full count of each and every one that remains missing.”

Robinson stated that out of the over 58,000 names that are placed on the memorial wall, it is important to remember that 36,000 were only 19 years of age or younger. For a lot of those who lost their lives, they considered it their “senior trip.”

Recalling his own time in service, Robinson talked about the 190 service members he knew that died in captivity.

“When I think about this wall, I think about my brothers on this wall,” stated Robinson.

He stated the names and exact location on the wall of the men he knew and stood beside when they had lost their lives.

He told the stories of their last days, all of which were spent in brutal captivity as prisoners of war. Robinson said that he preferred to think of these soldiers as being cradled by angels as they made their ascension up into heaven.

Robinson ended his time at the podium by thanking everyone for attending and reminding the guests of the importance of keeping the memory of the soldiers alive. 

“May all on this Vietnam wall rest in peace,” Robinson said. “And we, the living, must tell their stories. That way, the future generations of America will know why they are the land of the free because of the brave.”

The heartfelt ceremony concluded with a 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, and a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

As community members and visitors walked up and down the length of the memorial wall placing flowers, taking pictures or embracing a moment of reflection and silence, the grounds at the Winchester City Park’s Red Roof Pavilion were filled with solemn honor, remembrance and a sense of unwavering gratitude for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.