Vietnam vets get long-awaited "welcome home"

 

WASHINGTON D.C. -- After decades of waiting and days of traveling, 42 Vietnam veterans reached the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. ABC 57's Jess Arnold shares that moment in the above video.

"It’s just hard. You see the faces of the vets when you look at them, they’re remembering them...too many lives," said Army veteran James Focosi.

Many of the vets, whether they had seen the wall before or not, got emotional at the sight of the 58,000 names.

"There’s just so many of us that just didn’t come back and so many of us that are living with the demons," said Marine Corps veteran, James Reed.

Some vets brought mementos to honor their fallen comrades.

Others, took their stenciled names home to remember their sacrifices.

“I’m just giving my respects to all of them. They’re brothers. Just something I need to do. Because of them, it’s the main reason why I’m here. It’s just we cannot forget them," said Focosi.