Over three thousand people visited the site of what will be a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Perryville, Missouri.
They came Sunday for an event called Mark of Remembrance, in which visitors could write messages to loved ones on the concrete support wall.
Larry Ruebke of Steeleville, Illinois says he came to honor a fallen friend.
"I lost a good friend. Me and him got drafted together. He was my best man at my wedding. (We) graduated together and he didn't make it home."
Emotions were strong for many of the veterans and their families. Reverend Bob Blake of St. Louis served in Vietnam. He was Sunday there to help visitors deal with their feelings.
"The vast majority of the veterans and their families that come, it is a healing wall. It's holy ground."
Sunday's event raised over 15-thousand dollars for the memorial.
The granite memorial wall should be installed within a few months.
