Today was the dedication of the Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida in Punta Gorda, a replica half the size of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. and I had a random encounter that has me wondering whether it was coincidence or something bigger.
Volunteering for the Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida
My boss from the day job coordinated the memorial walk prior leading up to the dedication which included finding names of 200 service members on the Wall then printing those names out on cards. These were then handed out anyone interested in walking and saying the service member’s name once reaching the Wall.
Chance Encounter?
When I first arrived, she handed me a card and as the walk began, I hung back so she could lead it and I could distribute the remaining cards. As I reached the wall, a couple asked if they could read a name and I handed them my last cards which included the original one my boss handed me.
I gave it to the woman, she looked at it, handed it to her male companion who is a veteran of the Vietnam War and asked, “Isn’t this your friend?”
He looked at it, paused, and said “Yes!”
They were speechless and the crybaby in me teared up as goosebumps raced across my body. I had an urge to hug them both but rubbed his arm in a comforting way (at least I hope it was comforting and not creepy!)
The woman then looked around and asked me, “Are you a real person?”
I simply smiled and said, “Yes.”
Serendipity?
There are more than 58,000 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and only 200 were randomly pulled for today’s dedication. What are the chances that a Vietnam War Veteran would receive the card containing the name of his friend? Was there divine intervention and a specific reason that gentleman was meant to have that card? Maybe, there a reason I was supposed to meet him? Or, was it pure coincidence?
I’m heading to a blogging conference and since it’s about 15 hours in the car, I purchased audiobooks, The Law of Attraction CD collection to be exact, to make use of my idle time. What I’m learning, or re-learning, is everything has a reason and purpose in our life, although we may not know at the time what that reason or purpose is.
A Sign with a Sign?
While listening to the teachings I was stopped at red light and noticed the I was at the cross roads of U.S. Route 98 and Follow That Dream Parkway. Yes. For real. The green and white street sign read, “Follow That Dream Pkwy.”
Is the Universe trying to tell me something today??? Perhaps I shouldn’t over-analyze and simply enjoy the serendipity of life and work on keeping an open awareness to lead me where I need to be.
View additional photos from the dedication of the Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida on my Flickr stream.
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On Facebook as MICHAEL BOYER ENGLEWOOD FL.