New Mexico XVI

As many of  you know, New Mexico is one of my favorite places in America. I thought I was finished posting from there when I discovered a memorial that I had forgotten.

Bernalillo is not far from Albuquerque and has been called Coronado's City.

The city though not too large, 8,300+ in 2010,  has built a wonderful memorial to all who served and all who were lost, I have said many times before how much I like it when a place is able to honor all.

The memorial is located at 711 Camino Del Pueblo and consists of four granite plaques with the names of all who served and a larger one honoring those lost protected by three choppers.

Standing near by, perhaps on guard, or just remembering and honoring a fallen brother is a soldier with his hand resting on a Field Cross

As noted many times, previously, the Field Cross was first known during the Civil War to mark the place where a soldier fell, so that his remains could be gathered for proper burial at a later date. Even then we attempted to leave no man behind.

 His face is a little hard to see, perhaps, purposely so that he might represent us all.

A view from the street, some of the pavers creating the plaza have name engraved upon them. Bernalillo lies at the edge of the Coronado Memorial so don't miss it if you visit the area.

Next time, on the 16th, we will return to New York, so as always., join me there at 9:00am.

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

New Jersey XI

Previously, I visited Berlin, New Jersey and photographed a memorial set in a Veterans Park. It was a nice little park with several memorials to various wars. The memorial to Vietnam was a plaque honoring all those who served, but no names were listed.

Last April the town rectified that by dedicating a new plaque listing the 28 from the area who served or were lost. So, I returned to honor those listed and to, of course, update this site.

This is the original memorial and the one I listed here quite some time ago. You can find that post elsewhere on this site.

Here is the park today with the new updated memorial.

The park sits at the intersection of E. Taunton and White Horse Pike.

Two 'Nam vets from the Borough worked tirelessly to have the site updated at least to honor the one KIA from the town. Eventually they won out and the 27 others from the Borough were all included. This had been the only memorial without the names of those who served or were lost listed, they got this rectified.

Several hundred people attended the re-dedication to these heroes, living and dead.

As I have told you before we just dedicated a brand new memorial in my home town to our 130 lost or MIA and I think that it is really remarkable the memorials are still being built or updated. I hope the trend continues until all are honored and that we are sure that all have been returned and accounted for to the very last hero.

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

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

Mississippi VI

Mississippi was the very first memorial I visited on this journey, nearly 10 years ago. I was there about two years after Katrina devastated the southern coast and was astounded at how little had been done to restore the area.

This project, at the time, was still roaming around my head with no real plan of how, or when, to start. I discovered the memorial and spent several days trying to photograph it properly, but what struck me about it was its resilience, if you will. It survived, somehow, when much of what surrounded it was just gone.

These faces, just a couple from the many, say the same to me. Resilience. I think they speak volumes about vets and our never ending efforts to live, love, survive. These did not return

So, as you look at these guys, remember that.

Some of us struggle much more than others. These three and the 658 others from Mississippi never got the chance to try.

So, on the 5th of August we will return to New Jersey, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Minnesota XIII

Another from the Faces of Remembrance series, this one from very near the Minnesota Vietnam Memorial on Minnesota's Capitol grounds which honors the more than 1100 lost in 'Nam.

The statue stands 12-feet high. It consists of 1,500 steel pieces hammered and welded together. The statue depicts a returning Minnesota soldier dressed in full combat gear. He represents all the living Veterans who came home from war to help other Veterans preserve the memory of their fallen comrades. His outstretched arms ask the viewer for recognition and acceptance. The things that stands out to me is his face, he looks like a child, a face not often seen on a someone coming home.

It is called a Monument to the Living, but more commonly, by many,  simply as The Grunt.

I like his stance, too, it seems, to me, to be the classic WTF pose so many of us are familiar with in-country and more recently here at home.

You don't see too many memorials to those who made it back, but every now and then, it is good to see.

Next time, on the 31st, we will return to Mississippi, so join me there at 9:00am, as usual.

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

Michigan IX

Continuing in my Faces of Remembrance series brings us to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

I've told the story of the statue War Cry elsewhere on this site and you might want to check it out.

Today, I just want to focus upon the faces.

There are only two and one is mostly concealed by the arm of the other, but it is still a moving and poignant depiction of a side of war we don't often see, and except in Vet Center PTSD groups, get to talk about.

First, here is the statue: War Cry

The following are the two shots of the soldiers involved. I have often said that anyone who tells you he wasn't scared in 'Nam, is a liar, or perhaps he was just never there.

At first, it disappointed me that I was unable to get a better pic of the second man's face, but perhaps that was purposeful on the part of the artist. Anonymity creates universality.

Know anyone who is suffering or struggling with the aftermath of 'Nam. or any other war? Get them to a local Vet Center, asap. The folks there do great work and are only there to help and advocate for vets. I can't recommend or praise them and their work highly enough.

Next time, on the 26th, we'll venture back to Minnisota, so, meet me there at 9:00am.

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

Massachusetts XII

In keeping with my on-going efforts to honor those lost in Vietnam I began a smaller project called Faces of Remembrance, where I present portrait like photos gathered from memorials around the country.

It has somewhat startled me to discover of the approximately 700 memorials I have visited how very few actually have likenesses of those lost. So, let me use this post as an endorsement of the Wall of Faces project underway at the Education Center coming to The Wall in DC. The center is attempting to collect photographs of every name on The Wall, all 58,318, I encourage you to participate.

Many states have already completed the process but more pictures are needed. So if you have one, send it to them.

Go here for info about how to submit a photograph:

http://www.vvmf.org/how-to-submit  

  

These photos are a little different as they are not from memorial statues, as are most, but from the plaques on the Charlestown section of greater Boston's Wall. As I was not planning this particular subset of pictures when I traveled in that area, these pics are pulled from the larger photos and therefore are a bit skewed to the eye. Lessons learned, lessons learned.

Next time, on the 21st we will see another face from Michigan. Join me there at 9:00am, as always.

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

Maryland XX

Towson is the County Seat of Baltimore County and this memorial is located at the County Council Dist. 5, building.

Simple in its design, it honors the large number from the county that made the ultimate sacrifice in 'Nam.

Located in a well shaded area it has this dedication on it:

Citizens of
Baltimore County
Who Served Their
Nation in
Southeast Asia
1957 - 1975

Note the years listed.

These photos may be the best (worst) examples of glare that I have ever taken. I have often spoken about how memorials that are, by design, intended to include the viewer in the process by forcing us to reflect, make the photographic process somewhat difficult!


The County Council building has the address of 101-167 W. Pennsylvania Avenue.

Next time, on the 16th, we will return to Massachusetts, so join me there 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.