Going to the Vietnam War Memorial with Mr. Vega

Near the intersection of Henry Bacon Drive and Constitution Avenue lies the letter V. This letter contains names that are inscribed with chalk. Each one representing a fallen or missing US soldier from the Vietnam war. It is not uncommon to see living veterans kneeling, head against the wall crying. Each one having a story to tell, some waiting for the opportunity while others will take it to the grave. I had decided to find a solider that will, which for me was my high-school principle. Mr. Vega is a living testimony for the statement “Looks can be deceiving.” A small man standing about five foot nine, most students tower him. However, this man has an aura of respect; he does not demand, but it is given unconditionally. Every action is done with a hint of military precision; whether from the way he talks to the way he walks. He is a quite man that likes to sit and observe, but when he talks everybody listens. Knowing that he pays attention to detail, his interview would be full of information. Contacting him via Skype I was nervous if he would even agree to talk to me; however I was met with opens arms. Looking at him, I noticed features that I have never seen before. Ocean like eyes showing that they had seen both the horrors and joys life brings; grey hair quivering as if leaves in the Autumn, all of which had gone unnoticed to me before. His surroundings were papers stacking up on the sides, unfinished lunch bag just below that, behind him pictures of the ever successful highschool graduates that in their own right have become successful; all proving that he loved to work and see success.

We started off by talking on why he joined the marines in the first place. Mr. Vega at that time had come from Spain at the age of 17 a...

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...re what he wanted to do with his life as a young adult and instead was in a war. After he was discharged he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life, but was lucky when he had found it when he still had a chance to achieve it. Furthermore, he went on to explain those who were not lucky. He informed me that the countless veterans came back fell into addiction and had their lives destroyed since they did not know what to do.

Going back to the Vietnam War memorial, I can not help but think about the countless names on that wall. Each one having a story such as Mr. Vegas, but the only difference is that it can not be told. Reflecting back on the interview one statement that Mr. Vega had said jumps out to me; it was when talking about the future “Live life likes it is your last don’t worry about the past or the future but on the present and what you do today.”