HADN'T CONSIDERED BEFORE:
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THAT HE WASN'T ALONE, THAT THERE WERE OTHERS WHO FELT THE EXACT SAME WAY. SO THEY CAME, TOO. TIM ROLAND FLEW IN FROM McALLEN, TEXAS. ERNIE LAVESQUE DROVE OUT FROM SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. AND GLENN FOX CAME HERE FROM NEWPORT, NEBRASKA .>> HOW YOU DOING ?>> Reporter: ON ARRIVAL, THEY MET LEONARD'S SISTER LINDA AT THE CEMETERY .>> SO GLAD YOU GUYS ARE HERE .>> YEAH, WE ARE, TOO .>> Reporter: EVERYONE GATHERED TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO LEONARD .>> THAT'S WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO US TODAY .>> COME ON IN .>> BECAUSE WE NEVER GOT TO DO THIS WHEN IT HAPPENED .>> Reporter: BUT, LIKE A LOT OF VIETNAM VETS ESPECIALLY, THEY FIND IT HARD TO MOURN THE LOSS OF A FELLOW SOLDIER WITHOUT ALSO MOURNING THEIR OWN SURVIVAL .>> MY JOB WAS TO BRING LEONARD HOME, AND I DIDN'T DO THAT .>> HE GAVE SOMETHING I DIDN'T HAVE TO, AND I WONDER EVERY DAY WHY .>> Reporter: THE GUILT IS RELENTLESS .>> EVERY DAY .>> Reporter: WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON THEY'RE HERE .>> I'M HOPING IT HELPS ME. I THINK IT WILL .>> NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE -->> Reporter: AFTER THE CEMETERY, LEONARD'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS HELD A RECEPTION. ABOUT 100 PEOPLE SHOWED UP OFFERING GENTLE HUGS AND HEARTY HAND SHAKES FOR LEONARD'S ARMY BUDDIES .>> REALLY A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU .>> Reporter: THEIR MESSAGE CLEAR :>> GOD BLESS YOU .>> Reporter: HIS DEATH WAS NOT YOUR FAULT .>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE .>> Reporter: AND WE'RE GLAD YOU SURVIVED .>> I'M SO HAPPY TO MEET YOU .>> Reporter: GRIEVING A LOSS CAN BE DELAYED, BUT IT CAN NOT BE DENIED .>> HE KNOWS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HIM .>> YES, HE DOES .>> Reporter: PEOPLE HAVE TO FEEL THE PAIN, SHARE IT WITH OTHERS, AND THEN TUCK IT IN A POCKET TO CARRY WITH THEM FOREVER. THAT'S REAL CLOSURE-- NOT FORGETTING, BUT RATHER FINDING PEACE AND REMEMBERING .>> IT'S BEEN CLOSE TO 50 YEARS, BUT GLAD TO MEET YOU .>> Reporter: STEVE HARTMAN ON THE ROAD IN CHESTER, ILLINOIS .>> O'Donnell: FINDING PEACE AND REMEMBERING IN FRIENDSHIP. AS ONE OF THE VETERANS SAID, AFTER THAT VISIT WITH HIS FRIENDS, HE HAD HIS BEST NIGHT'S SLEEP IN 20 YEARS. THAT'S THE " CBS EVENING NEWS" FOR THIS FRIDAY. I'M NORAH O'DONNELL IN NEW YORK. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK. AND I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN RIGHT BACK HERE ON MONDAY. GOOD NIGHT.
