Post Messenger Recorder -

5:45 a.m., July 12, 2015. Unlike the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, which is best viewed the first time at night for reasons that can't be explained but deeply felt, the Green County Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Monticello is best seen in the first light of day.

What little sun there is has just started its rise, bringing with it the sounds of the early morning concert, performed by birds in the trees surrounding the monument in Monticello. In the burgeoning light, the stark monument slowly changes from almost black to its natural dark gray.

In the growing light of early mo...