The High School Presentatlion

A week ago I was at Home Depot. As I was checking out the young man at the register saw my wallet that said "Vietnam Veteran" and asked if I was a Vietnam Veteran. I replied yes. He then reached out and shook my hand and said "Thank you for your service." I was speechless. I usually don't have my wallet where one can see this and I was so touched by this young man and his actions. It was not busy at all and we chatted. He said they were learning about Vietnam and he had a few questions that I answered. He them asked if I would be willing to come to his school to talk to his Social Studies class. I said yes and he asked for and took my number. He then reached out and shook my hand with both of his thanking me again. I left and on the way home was overcome with emotion. I was so touched by him that I got home and got a book for him to keep regarding the "Wall" as well as four Life Magazines from the Vietnam that covered different aspect of the war. I took them to his work and told him the book was his along with a Vietnamese Coin and that he could use the magazines for his class. I then left not thinking I'd get the magazines back or hear from his teacher but was ok with that. Well a day or so later I received a call from his teacher and we talked about my service in Vietnam, how I got there, the return, etc. She then asked if I would come to the high school and talk to two classes, each lasting one hour and forty minutes. I agreed and we talked about what I'd present and how. I was so nervous for the next several days as memories flooded my mind, not that I'm not always thinking of Vietnam daily. On the day we agreed I did go to school, met the teacher and then went into the classroom. The young man came up to me and shook my hand thanking me. Once the bell rang I began to talk about how I got to the point of being drafted, my service, Vietnam and my return and how I am today. It was an overwhelming experience. The kids were great and I somehow managed to struggle through the classes. Several students came up to speak with me and thank me after the class. After the second class a young woman came up to me and asked if I was nervous and I said yes. She said "You did great" and wanted to know how I was doing today. We we talked a little about it and about my struggles. Tears were now rolling down her face as she spoke of her fathers tours in Afghanistan and how he has changed and is so different. She talked about things he does do for himself which made her happy that she wishes things would be the same as they were before his tours. I tried to give some encouraging words to her and she then left for the next class. The following week the teacher called me stating that the kids in her class really like my coming and speaking to them and how much they learned and how having someone who served in Vietnam made it real for them. We then talked about me coming for the next semester and getting together in advance to really put it together and have more time for questions, etc. I agreed and we'll meet in March. One of the things I'm working on during their Christmas break it to answer their 90 or so questions they had turned into the teacher so she can give them out after break. Some of those were addressed in the talk and many other were not. In looking at the list I thought how great those questions were and that I wished I'd have been asked some of them many years ago. It's difficult to explain that those questions made me feel better, as if someone really cared and cared for how I felt. I found myself very touched by those questions and by this young group of 16-17 year old's. I am so thankful that I had that opportunity and will have an opportunity to do it again and hopefully even better. And I am really thankful to that young man I met who was not afraid to ask and the respect he showed me. As he left class he thanked me again and said basically he'd see me again and I know where he works. I do hope we get the chance to meet and talk again.