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Health & Fitness

Veterans Day 2012

This Veterans Day is also the 30th anniversary of The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C.

Have you been to the most visited war memorial in our country? I’ve lost track of how many times I have been to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.

This Veterans Day weekend I will drive 1,300 miles, roundtrip, to participate in the 30th anniversary of the memorial. It will take 65 hours, spanning four days, to read 58,282 names that are etched in the black granite wall. It is my honor to read 30 names I have been assigned, which include my only brother, Mark Clotfelter, and his co-pilot, Michael Mahowald.

I am only one out of thousands who will read names. Most reading have a name that is special to them and after over 40 years we have not forgotten their sacrifice.

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Over 4.2 million people visit the VVM every year from all over the world, making it the most visited war memorial. Interesting, considering it was the most protested war. Maybe now the soldier isn’t being blamed for Washington’s mistakes.

But on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m., I hope you will take the time to remember the tremendous sacrifices made by all the men and women of our military, past and present. Without them we would not enjoy the freedoms we have here in the United States. Most of those freedoms we take for granted every day.

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