Michigan XVI

In past posts I have identified Veterans Memorial Pointe as being "near Troy"', this is not too far off,  but it is actually located in Rochester Hills at 1015 S. Livermore Road.

I want to return one more time to share a few more of the features of this memorial. At a bit over 5 acres, there is much to see here.

One of the unusual things I found was a string of stones with the names of scouts on them.

 

The only thing I was able to learn was that a Scout wanted to enhance the site as his Eagle Scout project. the article I read commented that he had help from several of his fellow Scouts, so that may be the explanation for the placement of the stones. As always, if you know anything about this, I would love to hear from you. 

Elsewhere, I came across stones immortalizing fellow vets.

Two among others.

Lastly, this bench. I just liked the way it looked.

Next time, on the 3rd of February, we will return to North Carolina, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

To see Vietnam memorials from any state and Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico click on the individual names on the left side of this page.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron from Florida, Tim from Virginia and Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, and Elli from Maryland, among others, have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

Massachusetts XXXVI

The last time I wrote about this site in Back Bay Fens in Boston I promised to share more from the site. You can check that post out here.

These pictures include two from the reverse of the memorial and one from the front plaza.

This is the full reverse of the memorial. I learned, many years ago, to always walk behind these memorials. More often than not, there is nothing to see, but every once in a while there is a surprise, as I discovered here.

It annoys me when I come across something like this. Here, this well known quote is attributed to anonymous. A few seconds on-line would have informed the makers of this memorial that the quote is from John S. Mill, a British politician from the 1800s. OK, so actually, in addition, it is a misquote and perhaps that is why it is not correctly attributed.

One might easily argue that it is a small thing and not worth commenting on, but I wonder if this is sloppy planning or what. I have served on committees that have built Vietnam memorials and we broke our butts trying to be accurate, to get it right. It just makes me wonder.

This map of 'Nam is on the front plaza of the site. What is hard to see are the various markings of specific places but there are several.

Next time, on the 29th of January, we will return to Michigan. So, as always, join me there at 9:00 am. 

To see Vietnam memorials from any state and Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico click on the individual names on the left side of this page.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron from Florida, Tim from Virginia and Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, and Elli from Maryland, among others, have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

Maryland XLV

For a number of posts now I have been saying, at the end of each post, that soon we would hear from Elli from Maryland.

Well, today is the day.

While traveling to Maryland's famous eastern shore Elli came upon a memorial near Libby's Coastal Kitchen restaurant in Stevensville. It is a replica of the statue of the Three Servicemen found near The Wall in Washington, DC.

These are a few of the pics she so kindly sent to me.

The owner of the restaurant, Walter Petrie dedicated this memorial to three of his fellow solders who were killed in 'Nam. It is not too often that you find a memorial placed by one man.

The men from his unit are named and honored on this plaque:

Michael Twigg

Raymond Knight

Loyd McBroom

Thank you, Mr. Petrie, you honor us all.

So, if you find yourself traveling east in Maryland on Rte 50, over the Bay Bridge, on to Kent Island, stop by Mr. Petrie's Libby's Coastal Kitchen in Stevensville. Have a bite, maybe a drink and honor these three fallen and the other fifty eight thousand plus who gave all for our efforts in Vietnam and the Vietnamese people.

Libby's is located at 357 Pier One Road. 

The next time I write about this site, I will point out something I noticed about it, something I have never seen before.

Next time, on the 24th of January, we will return to Massachusetts. So, as always, join me there at 9:00 am. 

To see Vietnam memorials from any state and Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico click on the individual names on the left side of this page.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron from Florida, Tim from Virginia and Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, and Elli from Maryland, among others, have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

Colorado XLIII

Once again I want to highlight this remarkable site in Fountain, which on several posts on this site I have referred to as Fountain Valley which is what the greeting sign says, but it seems the actual town name is Fountain.

You can see those other posts here, here, and here.

Fountain is a little south and east of Colorado Springs and about an hour and a half from Denver.

 Today, a few more of the heroes honored and forever remembered here.

 

Next time, on the 19th of January, we will return to Maryland. So, as always, join me there at 9:00 am. 

To see Vietnam memorials from any state and Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico click on the individual names on the left side of this page.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron from Florida, Tim from Virginia and Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, and very soon Elli from Maryland, among others, have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

California XLIV

As promised prior to my winter holiday break, today we are back on track and in California. 

Westminster is one of my early stops on this journey and to witness, and share with you, its remarkable growth is a highlight for me.

This small park, named Sid Goldstein Freedom Park is full of monuments and heroes.

When I first visited, in 2011, there was only the single memorial to the two vets: one American and one Vietnamese. You can see that post here.

Now, there are several more, see one of them here,

Westminster has a large Vietnamese population ( the largest in Orange County) and they have not forgotten their history and losses, nor our sacrifices and contributions.

Here they honor some of their heroes of the war.

 

Black April recalls the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. It is difficult to believe that in a few short months it will be the 50th Anniversary.

The City of Westminster remembers this day each year. 

See more here: Warning this is not intended for the very young and may be triggering for some others.

https://www.westminster-ca.gov/government/city-channel-wtv/black-april

Next time, on the 14th of January, we will return to Colorado. So, as always, join me there at 9:00 am. 

To see Vietnam memorials from any state and Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico click on the individual names on the left side of this page.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron from Florida, Tim from Virginia and Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, and very soon Elli from Maryland, among others, have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

Seasons Greertings 2024 IV

So, this will be my final deviation from the usual Vietnam memorials posts for this year (2024) even though it will post in 2025.

Leaving Delaware and heading out west I came upon these from one of my favorite places in the country: New Mexico.

These Chili Ristras are ubiquitous in New Mexico and often quite long. Maybe not as long as these which must measure more than 6 feet.

One sees all kinds of elaborately colored vehicles here.

This structure, just off my friends property, is a mystery.

This photo is actually a Trompe l'oeil or Trick of the Eye. While it appears to be a photo of a girl through several doors or portals, it is actually a painting on a wall through the open door.

New Mexico is renowned by artist for its majestic light.

No explanation necessary for this one.

Next time, on the 9th of January, I will return to the posts of Vietnam memorials. So, check back to see if I find something from California. As always, at 9:00 am. 

To see Vietnam memorials from any state and Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico click on the individual names on the left side of this page.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron from Florida, Tim from Virginia and Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, and very soon Elli from Maryland, among others, have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed,