A memorial to give veterans closure

Bob Royce arrived at Alexian Field Friday to honor the heroes he knew whose names were etched on the replica Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall erected in Schaumburg for Memorial Day.

Instead, the 59-year-old Vietnam War veteran from Schaumburg found himself searching for his own name on the wall -- and found it.

"That could have been me," the former Army specialist said.

Organizers say it was worth the three years of planning it took to bring the traveling Cost of Freedom exhibit to Schaumburg. There are other traveling wall replicas, but this one is larger and unique, they say.

More Coverage Video Traveling Wall memorial in Schaumburg

"No one understands the scope until they see it," organizer Frank Donahue said.

The exhibit continues through Monday. Among the organizers' goals are to educate youngsters and give veterans unable to visit the Washington original a chance to experience the wall.

Wall co-owner Steve Doty and his privately funded American Veterans Traveling Tribute group tour the country. In the past, Doty has seen anti-war protesters come out, though he doesn't understand their motivation.

"The names on this wall are the biggest reasons not to have war," he said.

The 8-feet-tall, 370-feet-long wall is an 80-percent-scale model and includes all the names of the original wall. It spans most of the baseball field's warning track.

By early Friday afternoon, 400 visitors -- schoolchildren on field trips, war history buffs and veterans -- had walked by to read off some of the more than 58,000 names.

The original wall was designed by an Ohio woman named Maya Ying Lin and completed in 1982.

Doty said the tour gives him a chance to see "the real America" by meeting veterans like Royce. Doty hopes he gives them some closure.

"There's a lot of healing," he said.

Royce was so moved by the wall that he said he'd like to travel with it on tour, much to the delight of Doty.

"I've only known him for a short bit, but I already feel a kinship," Doty said.

Marines Pfc. Karl Berglund served from 1968 to 1969 in Vietnam. Friday, he laid a white carnation at the base of the wall to remember Sgt. Howard Peterson, one of his many friends who died in the conflict.

Berglund, 58, of Marengo, said he traveled to the capital years ago to see the wall. But crews were doing preservation work, access was restricted and he wasn't able to read off his friends' names. So Friday's opportunity meant more to him.

Forty years on, he still struggles to cope with his combat experiences. There are stories he still hasn't told his wife.

"Maybe someday," he said.

Michael Lupo, 58, of Schaumburg said he's going to come back with his children over the weekend. He wants them to appreciate the sacrifices of the men and women who served. Lupo served in Germany during Vietnam and never saw combat. But about 90 percent of his boot camp was deployed to Vietnam.

"Sometimes you feel guilty," he said.

The exhibit also includes a collection of gold dog tags of troops killed in action in Afghanistan and Iraq. Doty says Americans sometimes forget the country is at war, and there's no need to candy-coat that fact.

"'Conflict' is a garbage name," he said. "We are at war."

Royce's eyes welled when asked if he had advice for any of the troops currently deployed.

"Be proud of what you are and stand tall, no matter what anybody says," he said. "You know what you go through. You know what you believe in."

Traveling wall exhibit

What: The Cost of Freedom Tribute, including a scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and other tributes honoring veterans and public safety personnel.

When: Display continues 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. today through Memorial Day.

Where: Alexian Field, 1999 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg.

Admission: Free. No outside food and drink allowed; concessions available inside stadium.

Info: costoffreedomtribute08.org.