I wanted to stop here for Arnold. He never would come to see the wall. He said it would be too difficult.”
Blythe took Gran’s elbow. They walked back down the steps and over to what, according to the brochure Gran handed her, was also called “The Wall that Heals.” Blythe read that the two walls that made up the memorial contained more than 58,000 names listed in chronological order based on the date of casualty. Within each day, they were shown in alphabetical order.
Gran took hold of Blythe’s hand. “Let’s look for Arnold’s brother, John. He died in September of 1969.”
They’d been searching for a few minutes when Blythe heard a sob coming from Gran. “So many names,” Gran whispered. She pulled a tissue from her coat pocket and dabbed at her eyes.
Blythe wrapped an arm around Gran, her own vision blurred by the impact of realizing how many soldiers had died. As Blythe looked over their names listed one after the other in row after row, sorrow created a knot inside her. No wonder Papa hadn’t wanted to see his brother’s name here. The guilt he’d always felt would have brought him to his knees.
Blythe fingered the names of men she’d never known, would never meet, and drew a shaky breath.
Eyes rimmed in red from the tears she’d shed, Gran turned to her. “I’m ready to leave. Thanks for coming here with me. I think Arnold would be pleased.”
They checked out the Vietnam Women’s Memorial and the Three Soldiers and then went to Gran’s car, walking together silently.
As she slid behind the wheel of the car, Blythe knew her experiences this morning with her grandmother would always remain a part of her. The memorials themselves were touching, but being with Gran, doing something for her grandfather, made it even more special.
She glanced at Gran, trying to envision her as a college student wearing Doc Martens as she protested the war.
As if she knew what Blythe was thinking, Gran glanced over and gave her the peace sign.
Blythe laughed and squeezed her arm.
CHAPTER FIVE
AGGIE
Still shaken by the haunting images of what she and Blythe had seen today, Aggie struggled to settle her emotions. She sat quietly in the car as Blythe pulled out of the parking area. Following her directions, they headed back into Virginia. Blythe was quiet as well, which suited Aggie’s mood. The visit to the memorial had brought back so many memories of Arnold and his struggle to be the best and do the best, not only for himself but for his brother.
After connecting to Interstate 95, Blythe broke into the silence. “I’m hungry. Let’s stop for breakfast, and then you can tell me where we’re going.”
“Oh, yes. I’m sorry. You must be starving. Let’s get off here in Springfield.”
After taking the exit, they found a diner and pulled into the busy parking lot.
“I’m ready for another cup of coffee,” Blythe confessed. “I can’t stop thinking about what we saw this morning at the memorial. I wasn’t even born when the war took place, yet it was so powerful to see that wall.”
“Your father wasn’t born either,” said Aggie. “I hope people remember that war and what it cost. Some have forgotten World War II and all that happened during that awful time or have even denied some of the most horrifying events. We must keep these pieces of history alive so that our country continues to move forward with respect for all that happened. Unless we learn from the past, history may repeat itself. We must remember.”
Blythe turned to her and gazed into her eyes. “Is that why we’re on this trip? A chance to remember that and other things?”
Acknowledging her granddaughter’s question, Aggie nodded. Though she hadn’t expressed it, she supposed it was true. Moving out of the house she and Arnold had lived in for so many years and into a lovely facility but would never be home had made her long for old friends, old memories. Plus, she had to speak to Donovan in person.
“Thank you for inviting me along for the trip,” Blythe said. “I consider it an honor.”
“My sweet girl, I love you so much!” Aggie said, clasping Blythe’s face and kissing her. “I’m proud of the woman you’ve become.” Aggie had been relieved when Blythe’s relationship with her boyfriend ended. Blythe deserved someone who appreciated her for the caring person she was, not someone interested in her because she was beautiful and might inherit wealth someday.