Louisiana IX

Louisiana has joined the vast majority of states by dedicating an official state Vietnam memorial. I am not sure why it took so long, but they are not the only state to have not done this, at least 'til now!

Molly Macdonald, a frequent contributor here has sent me these pictures from a recent visit to Louisiana. the memorial honoring all 8885 from the state who were lost or are missing is located. I have posted at least one other memorial that honors all, but it was not placed by the state. You can see that post here.

The new memorial, dedicated in March 2025, is located in St. Charles about an hour West and South of New Orleans.

There are several additional features that I will post at a later date. I am just very happy to have a memorial to show you. A huge thanks to Molly for forwarding these to me and I hope that her contributions will encourage others to send me ones they have seen, too.

I list some of the other contributors below. Please consider adding your name to the list. Each of you add to the knowledge of this effort and therefore, honor to their names.

Next time on the 21st, we will return to Maine to honor a few of her heroes. These will post, as usual, at 9:00 am. 

As mentioned above, 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.

Louisiana VIII

In what I believe was my very first post from Louisiana, I commented that the state seemed to have no official memorial but, that there were two in New Orleans.

That was June 11, 2012. Now, I just read that an official Louisiana State Memorial, honoring all 885 lost, was dedicated on Saturday March 29,2025: the 30th anniversary of the fall of Saigon.

Congratulations Louisiana.

Until I can get back to Louisiana, I will continue to try to honor those lost or who served in any way that I can.

One of the very first pictures I ever took in the state was not far from the airport at Dignity Memorial Gardens and seems to honor a number of Air Force vets who were captured. (This is one of the times I hope to hear from someone more knowledgeable that I am as I cannot track down information on the site.)

These names are crops from the 35 names listed here. Some are so weathered that they hard to read.

 

 

These photos were taken from the Wall of Faces, part of VVMF's effort to gather a face for every name on The Wall. You can see the thousands more they have collected here.

Next time, on the 26th of April, we will venture, again, to  Maryland, 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.

Louisiana XII

Back in 2011, I visited Terrebonne Parish in Louisiana, about an hour southwest of New Orleans. I shared some pics from there at the time, you can see that post here.

There is almost always more to see at these sites than I can include in a single post so I occasionally look back to see what else may be of interest.

I found these additional pics from Terrebonne Parish (for those who may not be familiar with designations in Louisiana, what would be called counties elsewhere are referred to as Parishes here.)

Built in 1995 by 'Nam vets, the park actually honors all.

This bell is rung at various ceremonies and all who visit are invited to ring it in honor of those remembered here.

Next time, on the 15th, we will revisit Maine, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

I will ask, as I do at the end of nearly every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state, or anywhere you may have visited, from the list at the left, or any place else. Please send them to the email at the left or directly to me at Ldddad@comcast.net. Thanks!

Louisiana XI

So, once again, faces. these are a little different as they are all likenesses of actual people.

The first is of the gentleman from Iberville whose story was told previously on this site. You can read that story here, and I recommend that you do take the time, it is really quite a story.

The second face is that is taken from a photograph at the Gonzales memorial, another very extensive and interesting site. See more here.

The final is from a small memorial at the University of Louisiana to Capt. Stephen Bennett, a Medal of Honor recipient who sacrificed his life for his friend. See more of his story here.

It is unusual, at least in my experience, to find these memorials where each of those honored are also actually identifies, at least in picture. The first two of today's faces names are unknown to me, but well known to others and I am thrilled to share their stories with you.

Next time, on the 13th, we will venture back to Maryland, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

I will ask, as I do at the end of nearly every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state, or anywhere you may have visited, from the list at the left.

Louisiana X

Just a quick look back at Gonzales, Louisiana. I have posted from here before, but found a couple more pictures that I like.

I previously posted a picture of this eagle from the front which you can find elsewhere on this site, but really liked the detail on the view from the back.

I have often stated that I have a weakness for flags and this one blowing in the wind with the sun shining through it caught my eye.

 

So, I guess that is it for this quick post. I will be on the road for a bit, but hope to post some pics from Massachusetts taken by my friend Jay Korff when I return.

So, join me on the 27th for pics from Maryland first, join me 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.

Louisiana IX

We have visited Gonzales before but I was unable to show you all of what this great park offers.

Here are just a few more of the components that honor Vietnam veterans and our brothers and sisters who were lost for that cause in addition to veterans from all ages.

This guy greets you as you enter the park.

Last time I posted I featured this small dedication but was unable to show the detail in any meaningful way. Now, with some improved skills on my part, I am happy to share it once again.

 The eight men listed here deserve the repeat posting.

 Brick throughout honor many of those who served.

POWs and MIAs are not forgotten.

This beautiful fountain must be very calming when in operation. I am sorry it was not on the day I visited.

The Ascension Veterans Memorial Park lies between New Orleans and Baton Rouge at 1 S. Irma Avenue.

Next time, on the 11th we will visit a 9/11 memorial to honor the great losses of that terrible day.

To see additional memorials from Louisiana, or any other state, please click on 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.

Louisana XII

I know that I promised to return to Maine in the last post, but I decided while looking over some old photos to do something a little different first.

Whenever I find a memorial with our brothers and sisters represented, I take a "portrait" of the faces. In looking through some of these today. I thought I would begin to feature them here, too.

So, today, these are from the Vietnam memorial in New Orleans. as I have said previously it is one of two in the city and the only one with soldiers represented. This memorial stands at the Super-dome on the Poydras Street side. It is elevated so you must either look up or climb up to the above street level to see it.

Over the years I have had the honor to meet a few of the sculptors of some of these memorials. They tell me that in most cases the people represented are not actual individuals, but imaginary or, sometimes, composites of many, many people. I have not been able to determine which is the case for these three warriors (top) who are trying to rescue their fallen brother (the last pic.) In fact, the very few exceptions of which I am aware is The Three Servicemen statue in DC, adjacent to The Wall. Two of the three there are said to be of specific individuals and the third is a composite of a couple of guys. One other exception, as a coincidence, in in Iberville, Louisiana.

So, next time, on the 2nd, we will actually return to Maine, so, join me there, as always at 9:00am. Occasionally, I will post additional "The Faces of Remembrance" photos, here.

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

Louisiana XI

This memorial to Capt. Bennett is on the campus of the University of Louisiana. I read that he graduated from Southwestern Louisiana and I do not know if they are connected, but I assume that may be the case.

Having only one usable parachute, after being hit, he tried to ditch his plane in an attempt to save his colleague and in fact, did so, at the cost his own life.

He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.

He is interred at the Lafayette Memorial Cemetery in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Next time, on the 6th, we will revisit Maine, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Louisiana X

 

The area is called Arcadiana and is made up of several Parishes (Counties), the first non native settlers came from Arcadia in Canada and we have come to know them as Cajuns.

This memorial lies in Lafayette, west of New Orleans, about 150 miles, in a Veterans Park that has several other memorials to others that served.

According to some official literature I read, it honors the 141 men from the area who were lost in "Nam. I have seen other literature that claims 82, another that lists 21, so I went back to my pics, blew them up and counted, three times, 125. I guess it varies with time, who is doing the counting, and what areas they are including in the count.

Nearby, a single marker.

Next time, on the 8th, we will return to Maryland, so meet me there at 9:00am

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

Louisiana IX

These are additional photos from the memorial in Avondale, Louisiana and a continuation of the previous post.

The memorial has lots of detail and I thought it would be interesting to include some of it for you to see.

The above pic depicts the ferrying of 1000 ARVN troops to a new location.

This pic names the operation "Chopper" and says that it took p;ace in 1962.

Some of the major battles are listed here, including a few of those not so often mentioned.

This field piece stands in what is called the Garden of Honor.

Once again, The Field Cross, but also with what to me is a more modern helmet. Does anyone know if these helmets were used in 'Nam? Did they come in after I was there, 1967- '68? I would love to know, because it just seems wrong, sloppy, to me if this is incorrect.

Next time, on July 3rd, we will visit Maine, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

Louisiana VIII

I am always on the lookout for a memorial to become the "official" memorial of a state that does not have one. I have written before about the two memorials in New Orleans and several others throughout the state, but none of these are designated by Louisiana as the "Official" Vietnam memorial.

One of the criteria I use when trying to decide which memorials to include on these pages is; "Does it list names?" If a site lists all the names from a state, then that goes a long way towards my being comfortable calling it an "Official" memorial.

South of new Orleans, about 15 miles, is the Resthaven Park Cemetery and in 2012, just such a memorial was dedicated.

It names the 882 KIA and the 38 MIAs from Louisiana. So far, the only one I have found that does this. I have mentioned before that the one at the Super Dome has been reported to list names, but in my several visits to the site, I have never found them. Here, there are listed and a number of etched scenes that will be familiar to vets and others on either of the two upright stones that make up this memorial.

Called the Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Reflections Monument, it stands, slightly raised in the cemetery. This was a good thing the day I was there as most of the cemetery was under water, (Not uncommon in many places Louisiana, at times) In addition, there are several pieces of military equipment nearby, there, too are from 'Nam.

Located on Highway 90 in Avondale, the exact address is 3450, although it is easy to find once in the area. On 90, coming from N.O. it is on the right side of the road.

So, while this is not an "Official" memorial, it is the closest I have found.

Next time, I will share a few more photos from this site. Join me there on the 28th at 9:00am.

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