Maryland XXI

Thurmont lies just a short drive above Frederick, Md. It is well known for its beauty and its apples, among other things. It, also, honors its service men and women with a Memorial Park that honors all that served.

Among the several memorials here is one dedicated to all the residents who served in 'Nam.

Two among these were lost and their names are marked with a + to denote their service and ultimate sacrifice.

As is nearly always the case, names have been added after the dedication. As you know if you follow this page we recently dedicated a memorial in my county. We worked for nine years to get it done and part of that effort was a an ongoing attempt to be accurate, to ensure that every veteran that was lost or remains missing was included. the numbers changed as we found more and more names. we thought we had done a terrific job finding all. On the day of the dedication, a lady approached me and said that one of the names marked as MIA had, in fact, been recovered and interred at Arlington National Cemetery. We didn't make it one day. If we can confirm this,  a correction will be made to be sure. So, as I said, it seems to happen all the time.

Memorial Park is located at 116 Main Street.

Next time, on the 21st, we will travel back to New Jersey, so meet me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Maine X

About 4 miles from the more famous Kennebunkport, Maine is Kennebunk, Maine! Here, I found this small, yet, dignified memorial to a few of our more recent wars, including Vietnam.

Nestled among some trees and flanked by three flag poles it honors those from , , and Vietnam.

There are several benches to reflect and remember.

Honored are those who served n all of our involvements from WWII to Iraq.

Located near the intersection of Summer Street and Portland Road, it was dedicated relatively recently although no specific date is listed.

Next time, on the 16th, we will see another site in Maryland, so join me there, as always, 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.

Iowa VIII

I have written about the memorial in Bayliss Park in Council bluffs before, but, today, I want to post one of my Faces of Remembrance series, with a small twist.

The soldier depicted in the statue is said to be Phillip Grego who was lost in 'Nam. His family worked tirelessly to have the memorial built.

This picture is not the best, but I think it is a little unusual to see glasses done so well. They are, also, not the standard military issue, interesting.

But, that is not the twist. 

Standing just a few feet away is a statue of a slightly older man who is holding a folded American flag. He is looking towards the statue and while I have no verification, I think he is Phillip's father, or a representative of all fathers.

I also see a certain serenity (?) in each pic. Perhaps it is something else.

At the time I took these pics, I had no idea I would be writing a Faces of Remembrance series, so I did not concentrate on the faces. these were cropped from larger pictures.

One never knows where the journey might take you.

Next time, on the 11th, we will return to Maine, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

Georgia X

At Fort Benning, in Columbus, Georgia, is a 3/4 size replica of the Wall.

While similar, it is different in several ways. Obviously it is smaller, 240 feet by 8 feet high. Also, it is rectangular, not sloping like DC.

In addition, the names are grouped alphabetically, by year, making an individual name easier to find, perhaps.

It lies just adjacent to the Heritage Walk just outside the National Infantry Museum at the Fort. The Walk features thousands of pavers honoring the many who have served.

In my reading up on this, after my visit, it is unclear about how long this memorial will remain at Fort Benning. One place says it will remain until "at least 2019," another says that the Museum will be come its permanent home.

As you enter the Vietnam Memorial Plaza, where the wall is placed you, also, see this memorial and a couple of others dedicated dedicated to those who served and those who served at home: families.

Next time, on the 6th, we will take another look at Iowa, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

Florida XV

Homestead, Florida is the home to many Military service man and women, and you may recall that it was devastated, a number of years ago, by a massive hurricane.

Knowing that there was such a strong military presence and history here, Steve and I decided to see if we might find a memorial, here, too.

We were not disappointment as we were able to locate this one in Losner Park.

Elegant in its simplicity, it honors all veterans.

The large stone is the main feature and it is surrounded by a number of individual memorials to various wars.

The one minor issue we had with it, was that it seemed nearly hidden, back in this corner of a quite small park.

I just read today that last March, it was decided to move it to a new location at City Hall.

So, if you want to see it in its original location, at Krome Avenue and Jasmine Way, you better hurry on over.

Next time, on the 1st of October, we will check out Georgia, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Delaware XI

I first visited this site in Dover, Delaware in 2010.

I had read, since then, that there had been a helicopter added along with some other features and memorials to more recent involvements.

So, after thinking about it for quite some time, I returned recently.

There is indeed, a Huey on display now along with some interesting plaques.

Near by are remembrances to those who served upon these war-birds that so very often were angels of mercy. I don't know a 'Nam vet who cannot hear a Huey way off in the distance, often well before anyone else is aware of its approach. there is something distinctive about they sound they make and we never forget it.

I am always pleased when I find a site honoring the dogs used in 'Nam. what many don't know is that they were abandoned at the end of the war, just left to die, or in some cases, I am told, euthanized. they was such an uproar when this became public information that the Military no longer leaved then behind and they are mustered out with their handlers.

There is, also, a POW/MIA chair on site. This is part of a nationwide movement to never let the public forget the sacrifice of so many. These chairs are found around the Nation and this is the second one I have seen in Delaware.

Next time, on the26th, we will return to Florida, so meet me there at 9:00am.

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

California XXXIII

This beautiful Victorian influenced park lies in Santa Clarita, California.

It was conceived in 2000 and in 2017 another component was added so it is clearly an on-going, living tribute to all Veterans.

From the fountain, one walks down the central path past what are called story stations which give a brief history of a number of our nations battles.

 The one to Vietnam tells our story.

Many names from all eras are engraved on the bricks that  make of the walkways.

In 2017 a new Fallen Soldiers Memorial was added too the site. It lists all those lost from the Santa Clarita Valley from World War II to the present.

Called the Veterans Historical Plaza it is located 24275 Walnut Street and there is parking at the site.

Next time, on the 21st, we will venture back to Delaware, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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