Maine XVII

Old Orchard Beach lies about a half an hour north of Kennebunkport, Me.

A lovely New England town that features a Veterans Memorial Park. Like many of these, the park has sports fields and facilities, picnic areas, and kids playgrounds, etc. The Park is nearly in Saco Bay so water sports are easily accessed, too.

The memorials area of the park is spread out over a fairly large area and from some angles nearly secluded by trees.


This first, largest view, as you can see, nearly conceals the larger memorials here.

This view shows the largest of the markers in the park. You can see that one plaque is missing, the one in the center is to WWII vets and the one on the right is to a specific Catholic Chaplin.

Down at what might be called the entrance is this stone which honors WWI vets.

Vietnam and Korea are remembered on this separate stone.

Located at 4 Heath Street it is a beautiful park and should not be missed if in the area. If you visit, take a moment to stop and honor those who who made such sacrifices over so many years.

Next time on the 23rd, we will return to Maryland, so join me there at 9:00am.

To see other memorials from Maine, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Louisiana XIII

If this post seems familiar to some of you, it is because the original has disappeared from this site.

I discovered this while doing research for A Means to Heal and found my photos on other sites. This is not uncommon, at least most of them credit me or A Means to Heal!

I searched and searched AMTH and could not find the pics or text on it, so I wrote a new version of an old post. Enjoy.

This is one of the first memorials I ever saw in Louisiana. It is located in Heroes Park in Thibodeaux and while it is what is called a "multi-war" memorial, it features our comrades prominently.

I may never discover what happened to my original post. For a time, I could find it buried deep in my data, but now, even that is gone, too. Perhaps I will figure it out someday.

Next time, on the 18th, we will return to Maine, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Louisiana, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Kansas VIII

Along with The Wall replica honoring the 777 from Crowley County, Kansas (seen elsewhere on this site,) there are a couple of other interesting markers here.

Located just east of the Court House, these, too stand in silent remembrance.

On a list of POW/MIAs from Kansas, I could find none listed, but this symbol and the flag has come, over the years, to represent all who were POW/MIAs.

This tribute to Women is one of the few at the time of the photo, 5/11,  fortunately we have become much better at recognizing and honoring the contributions and service of the  11,000+ women who served in 'Nam. Beyond the eight nurses listed on The Wall, approximately 140 civilian women were lost, also.

Next time, on the 13th, we will return to Louisiana, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Kansas, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Indiana IX

Evansville was under heavy construction when I visited, but along or near main street there are a number of memorials including this one to Vietnam.

Much simpler than the one along the River Front Esplanade, seen elsewhere on this site, it honors the 67 from Evansville who were lost.

55 are listed on this side

The reverse side list a few more, I do not know if these were added later or if this was the original design. If pressed to guess I would say these are names that were not known at the original dedication, but I can find nothing to verify that.  It is interesting to note that one name was added to the front on the lower left side, so I guess the question remains open.

The alphabetical listings on each side certainly add to my belief that these were added later.

Next time, on the 8th, we venture again to Kansas, so join me there at 9:00am.

To see other memorials from Indiana, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page

Illinois XV

Rankin, Illinois is a village in the Butler Township due south of Chicago about 100 miles or so.

In 1996 the folks who live there decided they wanted to build a memorial to all who had served from the Civil War forward.

 700 names are listed with no designation of when or in which war they might have served.

Those lost are designated by a small mark next to their names.

Just in front of the memorial is this stone, now difficult to read, acknowledging many of the individuals and groups that helped this memorial become a reality.

An interesting aside is that there are more names on this memorial than actually live in the village at this time, 700 vs 612.

The memorial may be found on Main Street in Rankin, not too far from the Post Office.

Next time on,  February 3rd, we will return to Indiana, so join me there at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Illinois, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Idaho

I've not been to Idaho in quite a while. It was, however, the very first memorial I wrote about on this site.

This month makes the 10th anniversary of the first pictures I ever took for A Means to Heal and I will probably have more to say on that in the very near future.

These pictures while the first posted were actually taken a number of months into the project. I had been mulling over the idea of creating a site to share this journey on and while in Montana, visiting my friend John Spitzberg, we drove down to Twin Falls and took these pics. It was sitting in John's living room that I wrote the first post for A Means to Heal.

These will be  a continuation of my Faces of Remembrance series.

These faces on the newer memorial in Twin Falls have been interpreted differently be different people.

Some say they represent a soldier, a prisoner, and a protestor, while others say the young woman id a female military person. I have spent quite a bit of time trying to find out if one of these is correct or maybe something else altogether. I recently wrote to the creator of the plaque with the faces, but he has not yet responded.

 This is the plaque upon the memorial.

 The Soldier

The Prisoner

The Woman

It is the woman that is up for question. She has an American Flag behind her, seemingly, perhaps, around her shoulders and it is quite unclear whom she might be or represent.

I hope the artist makes contact as I would love to know his original intent. when I first wrote about this site, so long ago, I said that I thought it appropriate to include a protestor, to try to speak to the larger story of the war. Since then I have seen these other claims that she is actually a female solder. I don't know if this is true, revisionist history, or if we will ever know for sure.

If I hear from the sculptor I will certainly update you .

Next time, on the 29th, we will return to Illinois, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see other memorials from Idaho, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

Georgia XII

Due south of Atlanta, about an hour, is Zebulon. I was just passing through when I came across this memorial.

Dedicated to many, from many wars, in includes four of our brothers lost in 'Nam.

Located at the Pike County Court House it was built by the American Legion Post 197.

It may be found on the corner of Main Street and Barnesville Street.

I am always delighted to chance upon memorials that are unknown and unexpected.

Next time on the 24th, we will take another look at Idaho, so join me there at 9:00am.

To see other memorials from Georgia, or any other state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.