Traveling memorial comes to Fox Valley

OSHKOSH - The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. is a powerful monument, that honors those who lost their lives and for the next three days, you'll have a chance to see a replica.

58,272 names line this Vietnam Memorial Wall.

Former Marine Michael Robinson numbers some of his friends among them.

"Those guys, ten of them right there on that wall gave their lives," said Robinson.

He was drawn see it in Oshkosh, as part of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute. It's a replica of the monument in Washington, D.C.

For Robinson, the experience at this wall is just as emotional.

"It's just hard being here sometimes, because these Marines, they gave it all…I'm just lucky to be here," said Robinson.

The UAW Local 578 paid nearly $10,000 to bring the tribute here from Texas. Veterans chair Rick Helms told FOX 11, it's worth every penny, because it can be offered free to the public to visit.

"It allows the veterans who cannot get to D.C. for one reason or the other, to go to a local area to be able to pay their respects to their fallen comrades," said Helms.

But this isn't just for Vietnam. There are smaller memorials honoring every conflict America has been involved in. Helms said it serves as a lesson to those who have not served.

"To be humbled by the size of it and the magnitude," said Helms, the magnitude of the lives lost for this country.

Robinson told us he's happy their sacrifices are being honored.

"Oh, it means an awful lot. It's not the recognition, the recognition is them. They are the real heroes. We can't forget them," said Robinson.

58, 272 real heroes.

You can see The Wall at the Sunnyview Expo Center in Oshkosh from now through Sunday. It is open to the public 24 hours a day. The tribute closes Sunday at noon.