Families honor fallen Vietnam veterans by cleaning the memorial wall on Mother’s Day.
WASHINGTON — On a quiet Sunday morning in Washington, the sound of sponges scrubbing granite echoed softly through the National Mall as families gathered to honor the fallen. Instead of breakfast in bed or bouquets of flowers, dozens of people—many of them children with their mothers—spent Mother’s Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, carefully washing the names of more than 58,000 U.S. service members who never made it home. It was an act of remembrance, of gratitude, and for many, a lesson in the cost of sacrifice.
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Eight-year-old Duke Walker spent this Mother’s Day with a bucket, sponge and a mission.
“I don’t really like to wash stuff,” Duke said. “But I like washing this now.”
He scrubbed the black granite of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial alongside his mother, Stephanie Muskovac. To them, this wasn’t a chore — it was an honor.
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate,” Muskovac said.
Duke and dozens of others gathered Sunday morning to wash the names of the more than 58,000 U.S. service members who died in the Vietnam War — each one etched into the wall, a lasting reminder of sacrifice.
“So those family members can find their person and everybody will be remembered,” Muskovac said. “Every single name is important.”
Fourteen-year-old Lucas Phinney joined the effort with his mom, reflecting on his grandfather’s service.
“My grandfather served in Vietnam, and he doesn’t like to talk about it very much,” Lucas said. “But it’s amazing, ’cause I get to think about him while doing this.”
The washing, organized by the nonprofit Chariots of Honor, brought together families, veterans and volunteers to show respect and remembrance.
“We did it on Mother’s Day because these men and women never got to come home to see their moms,” said Herb Valle, president and co-founder of Chariots of Honor. “And so we believe we have to pay tribute.”
For Duke’s parents, both military veterans, it was also an opportunity to pass on values of service and gratitude.
“I would love it if it would inspire him to serve one day as well,” Muskovac said.
For Duke, the reason was simple.
“It’s Mother’s Day,” he said. “And I want my mom to be happy every Mother’s Day.”
