Letters from the Newsroom

From Annette Espinoza

05.01.03

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Annette Espinoza

Dear Diversity Institute,

I wanted you to know about a reporting experience I had in June.

I was asked to cover the “The Moving Wall,” the Vietnam Veterans Memorial that was being displayed outside of Denver near a small mountain town.

The long drive was worth it. When I got to the memorial I was greeted with crisp, cool mountain breezes that reeked of pine. The memorial was set up amid Aspen trees. The view was breathtaking.

I interviewed several Vietnam War veterans who walked slowly up to the memorial as if they were afraid to approach it. Then, when they got close they appeared to be in a trance because they did not move or speak.

For some veterans it was the first time they had ever seen the memorial. Many were overcome with emotion. It was hard for me to interview the veterans and I found myself getting distracted.

You see, my uncle’s name was etched on that memorial and I had never had the opportunity to see the (permanent) memorial in Washington D.C.

After I finished interviewing the veterans I sat down and waited until they left. Then I went and found my uncle’s name. To make a long story short, having to cover that story was really difficult for me emotionally but at the same time it was very rewarding.

Annette Espinoza, graduate of the Fall 2002 Diversity Institute Class, is a reporter for The Denver Post.

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