North Carolina XXI

I was completely unaware of this magnificent tribute to so many. When I am planning these trips, I do tons of research to attempt to locate and learn a little about each site I hope to see. Often, misinformation, or scheduling mishaps, or just dumb luck (or the complete lack of it) interferes.

I have related here, on several occasions, stories of people directing me to sites I am unaware of, or of finding an empty field where a memorial is said to be.

In this instance I was traveling through North Carolina and just stumbled upon this vast park, Triad Park, in Colfax, NC. (Also claimed by Kernersville)

This wonderful obelisk was the first warning that something worthwhile was on the horizon.

This entrance pathway offers some hint of what is found further in, but for today, we will simply begin here. there will be more to come at later dates.

The mission statement is clear.

As is so often the case, the numbers have been corrected and/or updated over the years. We now know that 58, 281 of our brothers and sisters were lost as of the four year reconciliation project conducted by the DoD and the VVMF (Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation) Names, if appropriate, may be added each year. None have been in the last couple of years, so maybe, just maybe, we have added the last one.

There is much more here to see and I will be doing so in the not too distant future.

Next time, on the 24th, we will check back in to Pennsylvania, so, as always, meet me there at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from North Carolina, 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

Hawai'i' VII

Lately, since I have not been able to travel as much as I would like, I have been featuring faces from some of the memorials I have captured.

I thought that maybe it would be interesting to show some of the actual faces I've seen on my travels.

As it happens Hawai'i' is the perfect place to do that. I was invited to the dedication of the Vietnam memorial at The Punchbowl in Honolulu and all of the following faces were seen there. Only a couple will require any comment from me.

Mary Jacobs is the creator of the memorial (which you can find more about here.)

This guy may not be a 'Nam vet but he did us honor by placing a wreath at the new memorial. Thank you!

I can't swear that all these others are 'Nam vets but they sure do look like us and they all came to help dedicated this beautiful memorial as it took its place among the other memorials high on this hill overlooking the Punchbowl where so may lie. 

Mary Jacobs designed the WWII, and Korean War memorials, already in place here, more than 40 years ago. This, however, was the first dedication she had been able to actually attend, she was almost 90 at the time.

I will ask, at the end of 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 from the lost at the left.

Next time, on the 28th, we will return to Illinois for additional Faces of Remembrance, join me there at 9:00am.

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

California XXXIV

Thousand Oaks is about 40 miles a little north but mostly west of Los Angeles.

This beautiful park and Veterans memorial is located at 1379 East Janss Road.

When I first arrived I thought that it was very beautiful but just a generic veterans memorial. 

This was the first marker I came across which reinforced my thoughts.

As I walked around the site enjoying the great weather, I came across another.

Then, I came to this one listing the fourteen from the area lost in Vietnam, the only such marker I could find.

The memorial is called the Conejo Valley Veterans Memorial and is a short drive into Ventura County from L.A.

Next time, on the 26th, we will head back to Colorado, so meet me there,as always, at 9:00am.

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