Veterans Construct Vietnam War Memorial

Under a blue November sky veterans of the Vietnam War are reflecting and assembling The Traveling Vietnam Memorial wall.

"We left blood sweat and tears over there. But these fellows gave their all," say Veteran Herschel Ryan.

Pilot Hershcel Ryan's helicopter was shot down during the war. Ryan says constructing the wall is the least he can do for the women and men who lost their lives.

"It's an honor and privilege to get to come out here and be apart of this," say Ryan.

Each panel carried, displays names of fallen soldiers, and each was placed with care and respect.

"I haven't' looked up a lot of the guys I knew. I did carry out one panel that had the name of someone I know that go killed," says Veteran Bill Sawyer Junior.

Arranged by causality date, 58, 227 names are engraved in white. It's a humbling sight for most.

"Until you see it you don't realize how many people with lost," says wall visitor Florence Peters.

This is the wall's 88^th stop and construction is complete

"We started about 8:30 this morning it takes about 4.5 hours," says wall owner Greg Welsh.

While it won't be in Monroe for long, Veterans like Bill Sawyer Junior hope the wall's illustration of sacrifice will teach others that freedom comes with a price.

"I would like them to know that there' a reason that we have what we have," says Sawyer.

The traveling Vietnam memorial wall will be open for public viewing 24 hours a day until November 14^th. It is located just outside the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum and is free to view.