A Decorah woman's participation in the 35th anniversary celebration of the Vietnam Wall Memorial was "extremely emotional"

Pictured L to R: Margaret Walter and Christine Bolson

Decorah resident Margaret Walter and her sister Christine Bolson of Lansing are back home from a trip to Washington, D.C. for the 35th anniversary celebration of the Vietnam Wall Memorial. They were spurred to attend the anniversary event to honor their late brother, PFC Lloyd Wohlford, who lost his life at the age of 20 while serving in Vietnam.

As part of the 35th anniversary celebration, selected volunteers were given a list of names to read of the 58,318 names inscribed in the Wall. When Walter and Bolson arrived at the event at the assigned time to hear their brother's name read aloud, they discovered the designated reader was not there. After inquiring with the event coordinators and going through a security check, the sisters were allowed to step in as replacement readers and read a list of names, including the name of their brother.

"The whole event was extremely emotional for us. We felt so much support and there was a tremendous sense of healing that took place, not only by hearing his name read, but having the opportunity to read it aloud ourselves," says Walter.

The names were read continuously for 19 hours daily, from 5:00 a.m. until 12:00 mindnight, over a period of four days and a total of 65 hours.

PFC Wohlford was the first Winneshiek County resident to be killed in the Vietnam conflict and was pothumously awarded the Bronze star for his heroism. In honor of his service, the Army Reserve Center in Decorah was designated "Lloyd C. Wohlford Jr. United States Army Reserve Center" in 1978.

Pictured L to R: Walter and Bolson reading names

PFC Lloyd C. Wohlford Jr.