VETERAN VISITS WALL ON 10TH ANNIVERSARY

"Part of me never came back" reads one note left at the foot of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Cape Girardeau native Burt Lehman scribbled this reminder on a note which was sent with him on his trip to the nation's capital last week, Nov. 6-11, for the 10th Anniversary of the wall.

His sister wrote the note for Lehman, a Vietnam vet, to take with him on his trip. In the note, she reminded him she was so happy he came home from the war in one piece.

But, as a teary-eyed Lehman recalled, gazing into the polished black granite of the wall and seeing some of the names of friends he lost in Vietnam was a reminder that part of him never did come back.

"The theme for 10th anniversary was remembrance and reflection," said Lehman. "You can't go and look without remembering. And when you get up close ... You see yourself reflected in the wall. And it kind of reminds you that it could have been you."

Lehman recalled that many a time it was almost him, especially when his squadron was involved in the invasion of Cambodia in 1970.

"That left with me the biggest impression, the Cambodia invasion," he said. Lehman, who attended the dedication ceremony of the wall 10 years ago, served a tour of duty in Vietnam from August 1969 to August 1970.

He is a member of the American Legion of VFW and the commander of the area Vietnam Veterans and Support Group.

After his tour of duty, Lehman said that he suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

"I think my first visit to the wall 10 years ago kicked the healing in," said Lehman. "That's another thing that wall does: it heals.

"It lets you know, `You were there, you did what you had to do, there wasn't anything you could do about it, and this is what came of it.'

"And you have to build on that."

Lehman said the wall, an idea of a Vietnam veteran, was built through private donations. Its founder, Jan Scruggs, wanted a place of honor for the Vietnam vets, Lehman said.

"I don't think anyone in the beginning thought that it would ever have the impact that it has had," said Lehman, who went to see its dedication to find out what the new monument was all about.

"It was totally awesome, to use today's term," said Lehman with a laugh.

During that visit 10 years ago, Lehman said he had to try hard to keep dry eyes.

"I couldn't talk with the lump I had in my throat," he said.

This time, Lehman felt that the visit was more of a unity of brotherhood among Vietnam vets. But, at times, the tears threatened again.

"There was a very, very nice ceremony that they started with the Marine Pipe Band," said Lehman. "They marched out in their kilts and fancy head-dresses.

"And one lone bag-piper started out with `Amazing Grace.' He did very well. And the rest of the bag-pipers joined in for another verse.

"And that gave you a big lump in your throat. ... That was tough."

Lehman said that the reading of the names on the wall also had an impact. President Bush was in attendance to read some of those names.

Vice President-Elect Al Gore, a Vietnam vet, also gave an unscheduled appearance at the wall.

"He gave a talk that, seemed to me, came right from the heart," Lehman said. "I didn't see any notes. And I thought I detected a crack in his voice every once in awhile.

"He felt it deeply. Any veteran would. I don't think he could have stayed away. I think it drew him right down there like it did the rest of us. I gained quite a bit of respect for him."

POWs and MIAs were not forgotten during the anniversary week. Lehman said that different color guards stood a vigil all night long every night of the week. And they all carried POW flags.

"There were POW and MIA flags all over the place," he said. "As Gore left, he shook the hands of as many veterans as he could.

"And a lot of the veterans yelled `Bring them home, Al. Bring them home.'"

Lehman thinks that the Gore will try to bring home the 2,331 possible POWs, but he does not know if it's possible.

"The war is not over until they are brought home," said Lehman.

Terry Anderson, a former hostage, also spoke during the ceremony.

He made special note of the fact that, at the foot of the wall, someone left a congressional medal of honor.

Said Lehman, "Somebody was so overcome with that wall that he left that medal. That's how powerful it is."

A monument, a statue of three nurses in action, was also erected to honor the women veterans. At the foot of the monument were several Purple Hearts, Lehman said.

"Maybe some of the women saved the Purple Heart owners' lives and they felt the women deserved the Purple Hearts since they are still alive because of them," said Lehman.

At the foot of the wall, Lehman also left a replica of his cavalry's flag, which a special friend had made, and a rose.

Lehman said, "People may walk by and say, `Look, somebody left a note, a flag and some flowers.' But they're looking at my heart.

"That's my heart I left there."