The First Time

The feeling that it gave me as I made that final turn,

The power of that granite, a force I'd yet to learn.

It took fourteen years to get here, it took all my strength to do,

But thanks to friends and comrades, I would finally make it through.

While I stood in solemn silence, as I talked to friends once known,

I could swear I heard them saying,

"Hey Brother, Welcome Home"!

In the darkness of that first time as my tears began to fall,

I felt the pride and power of those names upon

THE WALL!

First visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
22:30 on 5-24-96
Wayne D. Paterson
A.K.A. Panman