US Presidency
1983

As America watched them, some in wheelchairs, all of them proud, there was a feeling that as a nation we were coming together, coming together again, and that we had at long last brought the boys home. A lot of healing... went on, said Jan Scruggs, the wounded combat veteran who helped organize support for the memorial. And then there was this newspaper account that appeared after the ceremonies. I'd like to read it to you. Yesterday, crowds returned to the memorial. Among them was Herbie Petit, a machinist and former marine from New Orleans. ' Last night, ' he said, standing near the wall, ' I went out to dinner with some ex-marines. There was also a group of college students in the restaurant. We started talking to each other, and before we left, they stood up and cheered. ' The whole week, ' Petit said, his eyes red, ' it was worth it just for that. ' It has been worth it. We Americans have learned again to listen to each other, to trust each other.