It's still damp here, the ground soaked after two days of June rains, and a morning breeze pushes the wheelchairs along, making flags stand straight, and the uniforms ruffle on the men and women, who are standing at attention.

In the background, in a constantly flowing river of names, the high school students read from the list:

"Allen James Baker

Alton Eugene Baker

Aquila Baker..."

For this weekend, the traveling Vietnam Wall will stay in Keenesburg, bringing visitors who automatically speak in low tones when they come near, who read names that sometimes bring tears, who remember and still mourn, 30 years later.

The wall is a smaller-size replica of The Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C., and lists 58,243 names of young people who died in that war. It arrived in Keenesburg Friday afternoon, and organizer Mark Kauffman said about 20 volunteers showed up to set up the wall in about four hours.

And while the wall is up through Sunday night, the names will be read over a loud speaker, in the background, never ceasing for 59 straight hours:

"Stephen Peter Barker

William Gayland Barker

David William Barfelt..."

The names will be read by volunteers from the community, mostly students from Weld Central High School where Kauffman went to ask for readers. He got nearly 80 volunteers.

It might be because three of the names on the wall were once students at Weld Central, and their families were there Friday to honor them. Three folded American flags were presented to the families of Jeffery Benjamin, Mauro Martinez and Robert Schneider.

Schneider's name can be found on panel 6 West, line 95 of the wall, and his mother, Nola Schneider from Hudson, clutched the folded flag closely Friday morning. "He was 19 when he was killed," said Nola Schneider, "just two months before he was coming home in 1970." Her son is buried in the Brighton cemetery.

Mauro Martinez's name is on the 50 East panel, line 18, and several of his family members were surprised to receive the flag Friday morning. "He graduated from Weld Central and immediately enlisted in the Marines," said Mauro's brother, John Martinez of Lochbuie. "He was killed in a mortar attack." John proudly tells the story that his brother won the state championship in the mile run, and the track field at Weld Central now bears his name.

If you look at panel 10 West, Line 94 of the wall, you'll find the name of Jeffrey Benjamin, who was 20 when he died on May 25, 1970. His brother Ben, also a Vietnam vet, now lives in Platteville. "It was real nice of them to give us the flag," Ben said in a quiet voice. He was at the ceremony Friday with many of Jeffrey's family members, including sisters, nieces and nephews.

And, always in the background for the next two days -- 24 hours a day -- the names will continue.

"Isidoro Sigfredo Bazam

Paul Thomas Bazar

Michael George Bazel...'

The Traveling Wall

This weekend at the Traveling Wall in Keenesburg:

« Saturday's flag presentation will be at 8:30 p.m., followed by a candlelight ceremony.

« On Sunday, the last day of the wall in Keenesburg, there will be a 7 p.m. service, including a flag presentation, a prayer and a 21-gun volley. The colors will be retired, and doves will be released.