Lynn woman awaits arrival of traveling Vietnam memorial

LYNN – Janet Atkinson has visited traveling Vietnam memorial exhibitions nine times or more and is curious to see who shows up to visit The Wall that Heals when it pulls into Lynn Aug. 25.She is curious to see if the memorial honoring her late brother, Frederick, and thousands of other Americans who lost their lives in the Vietnam War attracts a mix of young and older visitors. She wants to know if Lynn residents of Southeast Asian descent bring their own memories and losses to the memorial and is interested in seeing if the tribute to lives lost in Vietnam echoes the mixed feelings generated by the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.”There was so much protest against the war. I fight a lot with the question, ‘Did my brother fight in vain?'” Atkinson asks.Frederick Atkinson was 21 years old when he was killed July 9, 1966 while riding shotgun in a helicopter. The Army relayed the news of his death by telegram to his father, a veteran and local firefighter, who set an example of public service to his children.”It totally took my father’s spirit away,” Janet Atkinson said.Atkinson said her brother’s patriotism overrode his misgivings about going to Vietnam. Once he arrived in Southeast Asia, he bragged in letters and wrote home about his Army unit’s accomplishments and his pride in their achievements.Faith helped her East Lynn family endure her brother’s death. She still feels the terrible loss she felt when she heard the news of his death. In the decades since losing him, Atkinson has worked to honor her brother and reconcile losing him by visiting the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. five or six times and visiting traveling walls like the one coming to Lynn whenever she gets the chance.She looks forward to the wall’s arrival at Fraser Field.”I think young people should see how much men were willing to service their country and how they were willing to put it on the line when it needed to be,” she said.The traveling Vietnam veterans memorial “The Wall That Heals” will visit Fraser Field Aug. 27-30. Opening ceremonies will be held Aug. 27 at 6 p.m., followed by a ceremony honoring Gold Star Families on Aug. 28 at 6 p.m., a POW/MIA remembrance ceremony on Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. and closing ceremonies on Aug. 30 at 4 p.m. Admission is free and the entrance at 120 Locust St. will be open 24 hours a day. Parking is available on Ford and Locust streets. For more information, visit www.lynnwallvisit.com