Nearly everyone has seen the poster a Vietnam veteran resting his hand on the Vietnam Memorial Wall, and the ghostly reflection of his fallen comrades peering back; the artist’s of this moving piece is named Lee Teter. The fellow leaning up against the Vietnam Memorial Wall is named Jim Williams. He, along with my father-in-law, and a few others, started the VVA (Vietnam Veterans of America) Chapter in Cumberland, MD, and Teter donated this painting to their Chapter as a fund raiser. It was at this Chapter as a guest of my father-in-law that I met, and had dinner with, Mr. Williams.
The other day my wife and I went to J.C. Penny’s to buy me some needed clothes. When I got home I looked at the manufacturer’s tag and shook my head at the irony. My boxer shorts (with their icon depiction of a baseball batter and catcher poised for action) were made in, of all places--Vietnam.
It is now my belief that before our Government drags us into another war we ought to have a “cooling-off” period of no less than thirty years. Then, after that span of time has passed, we can reevaluate our feelings of hostility. After all, who do you want sewing your undies together, an enemy or a friend?
To see this painting by Teter click on the link below.
http://www.vietnamreflections.com/
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