Julie Scheidegger, the Journal

Vietnam veteran George Stewart, Hoyt, Kan., salutes after finding the name of David W. Pippin who he served with from 1966-1967 in C Company 84th Engineer Batallion, Construction. Pippin's tour was extended six months through the Tet Offensive in 1968. Mission Valley High School student, Tyler Meade, Eskridge, Kan., stood beside Stewart. The two were paired up through Meade's American history class to experience the wall together. For more photos, go to the Photo Gallery section.

Editor's note - Thousands visited the traveling exhibit of the Vietnam Memorial at Pink Hill Park to pay their respects to those who lost their lives during the Vietnam War. The wall was open to the public 24 hours a day from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.

The two had never met until today; Vietnam veteran George Stewart, Hoyt, Kan., and 15-year-old Mission Valley High School student, Tyler Meade, Eskridge, Kan. Paired up to experience The Wall that Heals together, Meade followed closely as Stewart found his way to the name of a friend: David W. Pippin.

Stewart and Pippin served together in C Company, 84th Engineer Battalion, Construction from 1966-67. Stewart’s tour was up, Pippin’s was extended for another six months, through the Tet Offensive in 1968. He died Feb. 14 of that year leaving two children he had never met. Stewart received an e-mail recently that said Pippin’s sons are now research scientists.

It was important for him to find his friend’s name.

“It means that they’re not forgotten,” Stewart said.

Stewart took off his hat as he knelt before the wall, Meade followed. When he found Pippin’s name he stood straight up and saluted his friend.

“It brings back things that I didn’t know were still there sometimes,” Stewart said. “The Wall that Heals…it is.” He sometimes struggles with survivor’s guilt.

“You look at all these names and there’s all these guys and gals that didn’t make it back,” he said.

Meade is quiet. He’s nearly the age of most of the men and women who are honored on the wall. On the bus ride to Blue Springs, Stewart showed Meade his basic training graduation book.

“It’s neat being able to share that stuff you don’t talk about,” Stewart said.

Meade said visiting The Wall that Heals with Stewart made the lesson more real than anything he would read from a textbook or if had just come on his own.

“It wouldn’t have been the same at all,” Meade said. “It’s not as personal or deep if you’re not talking to someone that lived it.”

* * *

Although she didn’t serve in the Vietnam War, Mary Mullenix, Blue Springs, wanted to serve her community now. She called City Hall and signed up to be a volunteer at The Wall that Heals.

“You have to pay your respects,” Mullenix said. “I’m not going to say it gives you closure, but it gives you the sense you’re paying your respects.”

* * *

Art McCleery, Blue Springs, and Robert “Bob” Johnson, Lake Lotawana, kneel at the base of The Wall that Heals in Pink Hill Park Thursday. Both from the small town of Eureka, Kan., Johnson holds seven pieces of paper in his hand; each representing the seven men that died from their town.

McCleery served in Vietnam from 1968-69 during the Tet Offensive. Unlike the others, he made it home. “It’s really hard to see all those guys that you have known,” McCleery said. “They would’ve been our age.” It stirs another emotion in Johnson.

“I have a little bit of guilt,” Johnson said. “I had a heart murmur. I signed up, but I didn’t get in.”

Johnson looks through the papers. He smiles; a memory comes to him. One of the men and Johnson dated the same girl in high school.

“To live in such a small town,” Johnson said, “we all knew one another.”

* * *

Gerald Gillen stands a long time in front of his cousin’s name. Thomas Gillen, a pilot, was shot down over Laos Feb. 18, 1970. His body was never recovered.

He had another cousin that was wounded. Stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colo., Gillen’s battalion was activated, but he was never sent to Vietnam.

To come to the Wall and pay his respects meant a lot to him.

“I think everyone should see the Wall and appreciate what’s been done to keep our country free,” Gillen said.

He was glad to see so many people supporting the veterans and paying their respects to those who were lost.

“There was a lot of hostility toward most of us,” Gillen said. “Very seldom did you see us wearing our uniform off the base. Now you can go anywhere and see our soldiers.”

He’s proud of America’s military. He understands the sacrifice given when he served and now for the soldiers today.

“The way these guys have been activated, serving two and three terms,” Gillen said. “They’re paying a big price to make our country free.”

* * *

Floodlights shine up on The Wall that Heals. At nearly 10 o’clock Friday night, Joe Thornbury, Wellington, and Bruce Maples, Buckner, who both served in the military during the 1980s, are satisfied having found the name of a man they have never met.

James Wesley Smith died Sept. 11, 1969. Smith, also from Wellington, will be posthumously honored by the Wellington School District as its alumni of the year. Thornbury took it upon himself to research Smith and present his story at the annual dinner where he will be honored.

“The community doesn’t know what I’m doing,” Thornbury said.

The opportunity to see The Wall that Heals couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. He was thinking of going to Washington, D.C. to the Vietnam Memorial to find Smith’s name.

“It’s a certain respect to that person,” Thornbury said, “to honor him.”

To reach Journal reporter Julie Scheidegger, call 816-282-7016 or e-mail jscheidegger@lsjournal.com