In Memory

I didn't know Virgil very well. We went to school together from Jr. High on. I was never in his home, nor he in mine. We played on the Jr High and High School football teams together. I was present at the state wrestling tournament in Johnson Gym in Albuquerque when Virgil won the state championship in his weight class.

Today I saw his name on the Vietnam War Memorial. Panel 34W line 61. KIA in Vietnam in 1969. I was a little choked up as I thought of a classmate who has missed these last 37 years. My thoughts go out to his family for their loss as well.

Then as we walked on a litte further there was an athletic letter lying among the tributes. It was a big blue K. And at that point I realized the loss of 58,000 guys who have missed the last 37 years. George W., we need to win this thing in Iraq so in 40 years the people looking at the Iraq War Memorial won't be struck by the number of their buds that lost their lives in an unsuccessful war.

Today's blog, In Memory, Virgil Jessie Roberts.