Kentucky IX

Today, we return to regular posts honoring those individuals who were lost served or memorials to those who served and/or were lost.

Three from Kentucky will be honored today. Their names are listed on the memorial in Simpson County.

Paul Douglass Aton

PFC Aton     was lost on July 29th, 1968. He was involved in ground combat and drowned. He was born in Texas but moved to Kentucky, enlisted from there and was buried there.

Ronnie L. Clayburn

LCPL Clayburn was lost 0n June 7, 1969 at Quang Nam Province by rocket or artillary fire. He, like PFC Aton above was from Franklin, Kentucky.

Earl W. Frye

PFC Frye was lost to artillary, rocket, or mortar fire on March 26, 1968.

The memorial honoring these men, among others, is located at the Franklin City Hall.

Next time, on January 16th, we will return to Louisiana and a brand new memorial to all who were lost from the state, so join me there, as usual at 9:00 am. 

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, Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, Elli from Maryland, and Peg and Ray from Florida, 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 and/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.

I hope all those listed here will encourage you to send along photos and join the group. 

Kentucky VIII

As you might guess, when I speak about this project I am always asked "which one is your favorite?"

I always explain that I love them all and that the "one I am standing in front of..." is always foremost in my mind.

Having said that, I will always mention the Kentucky memorial in Frankfort. It is just spectacular in its carefully thought out design and purpose. 

You can read about more of this here in my original post from Kentucky.

In keeping with my long term goal of honoring as many as I can, today, these names are from the plaza awaiting the passing of the shadow from the gnomon to touch, honor, and remember them: a reminder to us all.

These names were taken from the plaza in Frankfort and the photos are from Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund's Wall of Faces.

You can check out all the photos at:

https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces

Next time, on the 21st of April, we will venture, again, to Louisiana, so, join me, as always, at 9:00 am.

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, Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, Elli from Maryland, and Peg and Ray from Florida, 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 and/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.

I hope all those listed here will encourage you to send along photos.

Kentucky VII

As mentioned in the last post, Franklin hosts two Vietnam memorials. This one is located in a park a few miles from the city square. I had read that there was a memorial in this town and did not feel as if the one on the square was it! I went into some stores and asked a few folks on the street, but no one was aware of a Vietnam memorial. I nearly gave up, but decided to check out the Police Department. No one there was sure, but one guy thought it might be in the park. He kindly drew me a map to the park area and to the local VFW. I went to the VFW but no one was there. I drove into the park just as the sun was setting and was doubtful about having time to locate and photograph the site.

Well, it got dark and I headed out of the park and just as I was leaving I noticed an American flag. I pulled over and at the base of the flag found this marker. There was no sign or anything marking it, so it was just luck that I stumbled upon it.

I found it very interesting that the plaque shown in the last photo had been included. Long time readers of this site know that on occasion those who design these memorials include something that addresses the controversy that surrounded the war. As I have said before, I think that these inclusions tell our story more completely. To see another example of this effort to tell the whole story, go to the list of states on the left of this page and "click" on Idaho.

Next, I will move on to Tennessee; Nashville, Springfield, Soddy-Daisy and Whitwell. Join me on June 19th.

Kentucky VI

This memorial is located at the City Hall in Franklin, Ky. Not far from the Tennessee State line, Franklin has been named as one of the best small southern states in which to live.

This memorial, like in so many small towns, is one that honors sons and daughters of many wars. Those listed here, eight in all, may also be found on a separate Vietnam memorial located elsewhere in Franklin. I will write about that one in the next post.

This one can be found on the corner of Cedar and Main, on the Cedar Street side of the building. Individual bricks are found interspersed along the walkway.

Kentucky V

In Paris, Kentucky, this monument and eternal flame will forever remember and honor those who served and those who paid the final price.

Eleven of Bourbon County's best are listed as among the lost, while hundreds of those who served with them flank their names. Perhaps they guard the memory of their brothers.

This elegant memorial is located at 3rd and Main in Paris.

Kentucky IV

Seven more are honored at this site, at the Court House in Winchester, Kentucky. It was interesting to see all the flags and flowers. It was not Memorial Day or Veteran's Day. It just seems that the folks in Winchester remember.

Kentucky III

To honor the seven from Montgomery County, Kentucky who made the ultimate sacrifice in 'Nam, this memorial proudly stands on the Court House lawn.

It was dedicated in November of 1984 and can be found on the corner of Court Street and Broadway.

Kentucky II

Lexington is not far from Frankfort. I was pleased to find this nice memorial in Phoenix Park. A nomad (?) on a camel welcomes you to this lovely site. I was a little surprised to see him in Lexington, not to mention in the snow!

Located on the corner of Limestone and West main the site was a little hard to see from the street as it faces inwards. In addition to listing the names of 50 fallen soldiers from Lexington and Lafayette Counties, it also bears an interesting thought.

"If all men were just, there would be no need for Valor "

Kentucky

As you may well imagine, in the last couple of years, I have been to hundreds of memorial sites. I love them all. Each carries its own special significance for those honored, their family's, friends and loved ones. In addition each provides healing for a community that not only suffered through the war, but lost its sons and daughters, Mothers, Fathers, brothers and sisters, too.

It is probably not too surprising that these memorial sites can be similar. I, generally, refer to them as some version of the Wall, an LZ, or a group of comrades either on patrol or helping a fallen brother.

So, it was with the the greatest anticipation that I set out to see the memorial in Frankfort, Kentucky. I had read that this site was different and I wanted to be there.

Dedicated in 1988 and overlooked by the State Capitol building, the site consists of a large sundial. The names of the lost are placed so that on the anniversary of their death, the shadow cast by the gnomon (say; noman) touches their name. This creates an individual Memorial Day, each year, for each of the 1103 fallen. Around the perimeter are verses from Ecclesiastes. Many of us will remember The Byrds singing them in Turn, Turn, Turn and they seem beautifully fitting here, also.

So, with all this anticipation, you might well imagine my disappointment when I arrived and found the memorial covered with snow! It was cold, gray, wet and impossible to get good photos. Somewhat crestfallen, I left.

Later, after traveling to Tennessee and Georgia, I determined to return. On this particular day, it was still gray and cold, but the snow had melted so I was finally able to get photos. I am so glad that I returned. It is a strikingly beautiful site. Not only did I get to visit the site, I found the POW/MIA marker further up the hill, under a tree. I, also, saw the MIA's listed at the base of the gnomon, where the shadow will never touch them.

I wondered what happens when an MIA is recovered. I was able to have a nice conversation with the man who designed and built the memorial. He told me that if an MIA is recovered or declared dead, the date of the declaration or recovery is added next to the name. That is why in the photo of those names, only some have a date. On the plaza where all the other names are listed, the first name (1962) and the last name (1975) have had the dates of their loss included, defining the war for Kentucky. Another interesting feature; the stone upon which the MIA names are listed has been finished on both sides. So, when all MIAs have been accounted for, the stone can be turned over, no longer to mourn those lost and unfound.

The designer/Architect added a lot of info on Wikipedia. It explains some of the Geometry and how it all works and you can find it here;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_Vietnam_Veterans_Memorial

The official site of the memorial is here;

http://www.kyvietnammemorial.net/index.html

The memorial is located on Coffee Tree Road at Vernon Cooper Lane. It is located near the Kentucky Library and Archives building. There are a number of signs on the road marking the site.