American Veteran

There were repeated comments of long overdue, long overdue. As the Vietnam veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington today. There was this pent up need, and I feel that with the dedication of the wall in 82, it allowed people to release what has been, have been built up in them for years, years, and years. (crowd cheering) People were leaving the objects at that wall before the formal dedication and objects are still being left today. They became part of the story. -

Man

In a ritual repeated at least twice a day. The park ranger on duty collects, bags, and labels, the items, that transcend, the usual flowers and flags. They were collecting these objects and they were being housed at this facility out in Maryland. They don't even know what they have because, none of them are military. At the time I was on the board of Vietnam, veterans of America. I pulled other veterans together and we would come out there and we would identify these objects and put them in boxes and little by little they just let me have free reign. This is a beaver shelled hat that was left at the Memorial. They were very popular with the quote hippies. I wanted to be sure that everyone who was affected by that war were reflected in this collection. (emotional music plays) I look at this as being curated by the public. They are deciding what is important to them. They are leaving this. I hope that I've done them honor.