By Sunday afternoon, thousands of people had come to the Capitol to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall in Jefferson City.
Don Hentges, president of the Jefferson City Veteran's Council, said the community response to the moving wall has been incredible, with about 800 people coming per hour during peak hours and an average of 400 per hour in non-peak times.
"I am pleased all the way around," Hentges said, noting the support of businesses, sponsors, organizations and more than 200 volunteers. "We couldn't have done it without the community."
More than 1,000 school children came to the Wall on Thursday and Friday alone, Hentges said, which allows them to learn the true meaning of sacrifice and the cost of freedom.
The Moving Wall was created in 1983 by Vietnam veterans who wanted to share the experience of seeing the wall with those who might not be able to travel to Washington D.C.
This is the second time the replica has visited Jefferson City, hosted by the Jefferson City Veterans Council.
Hentges said he's met many Vietnam veterans who came to visit the wall for the first time and can see the effect it has on veterans, including himself.
"The Wall really does heal," Hentges said. "It's been very rewarding."
Hentges said so many veterans don't want to remember the things that happened in Vietnam, but the only way to move forward is to find a way to embrace those difficult memories and visiting the Wall can help.
"It's very emotional," Hentges said. "It gets better the more you talk."
Walking through the line of people looking at names on the Wall, many noticed the items being left at the Wall in honor of those listed. The majority of offerings are hand-drawn cards or thank you notes, flowers and flags. But on Sunday, there also was a box of Crayola crayons, a cassette tape, several packs of cigarettes (and some loose ones) and even one beer.
Hentges said all the items left at the Wall will be collected and taken back to Washington D.C., where many of them will be placed with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection.
Hentges said at one point, he was concerned that bringing the Moving Wall back to Jefferson City just 10 years after it had last been at the Capitol may be a waste of time as everyone likely visited it in 2005. But on Sunday afternoon, as he looked at the crowd of people who continued to come to the Capitol grounds to view the displays and the Wall, he said he knew the effort had been worth it.
He even noted he would love to be able to bring it in annually to ensure children have the opportunity to learn about the Vietnam War and the sacrifice more than 58,000 soldiers made. Hentges said by being a part of making sure that is never forgotten, he is able to live up to the promise he made as he held his dying friend in Vietnam: "You will not be forgotten."