Delaware XXIV

While cruising around Delmar, after visiting the previous post at the VFW, I was looking for a park that purported to have yet a second memorial.

It was not too difficult to locate and the memorial here, like in so very many small towns is dedicated to more than one war.

Originally a WWII memorial it was, seemingly, decided to add a marker for WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam at some later time. 

The more recent marked could do with a little TLC as it has been knocked off center by something, perhaps merely settling of the earth.

Unlike the original WWII marker, there are no names here for the more recent wars, just this simple plaque.

Located near the corner of N. 6th and E. State Streets this sign, at the edge of the park, tells a brief history of the town.

Next time, on the 18th, we will revisit Maine, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Delaware, 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.

New Mexico XXI

At the New Mexico Veterans Memorial there is so much to see. I have written about it elsewhere on this site and you can check that out here.

I have been posting often lately about the faces on memorials and shall do so today also, with one difference.

In addition to the face on the main Vietnam memorial here, I will also share the faces of a soldier returning to his family, something I have only see rarely on this journey.

Once inside this remarkable site you find this lone soldier, as seen in the post listed above.

But, elsewhere, you see this poignant statue of a returning soldier. It is called The Welcome Home Memorial.

Another unusual feature is that it is made of carved wood, I can only think of one other and it, too, is in New Mexico

The family

The soldier

The wife

 

Their child

 The plaque below says:

Welcome Home Veterans

The grateful people of New Mexico

want to thank you for

keeping us safe.

It is quite rare to see a memorial that depicts those other than a military member, I can only think of a few, but I think this one is particularly moving.

Next time, on the 14th, we will revisit New York, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Maryland XXXIV

I suspect that we all have had the experience of living so close to a place that we think we can always go there, and never do!

I have lived within driving distance of Washington, DC for nearly all of my nearly 75 years and have never been to the White House, for example, because I can always go, sometime.

Today's memorial was first erected in 1960 and is a short walking distance from a place I worked for 17 years. Never saw it. I had some idea that ot was there, but...

Well, today, I will share it with you.

It, like so many, honors those sacrificed in several wars and, like so many, is elegant in its simplicity.

A simple standing stone. Like those from civilizations from the deepest of times.

Enhanced by water, even though the fountain was not working last week when I visited.

Guarded by trees and honored by "old glory" it rests at the intersection of Woodmont and Norfolk Avenues in Bethesda giving solace to those who were there.

Next time, on the 30th, we will revisit Michigan, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

This memorial may be found near the intersection of Woodmont Avenue and Norfolk Avenue in a little park in Bethesda Row.

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

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 list at the left.

Illinois XVI

So, even a different view of faces. In this Faces of Remembrance series I have tried to show the different looks I have seen given to the statues I've found as I travel. Last time I showed some faces of vets and others seen at the dedication of the memorial in Honolulu. 

Then while once again searching my photos I came across these faces. These are unusual as they are faces of lost vets, but from a happier time. I guess they might be from their Basic training graduations.

I found them when I visited Havana, Illinois to photograph the memorial there. Across the street from the park where the memorial is, there was a storefront. the guy that owned it filled the display window with patriotic stuff and the pictures of many of the soldiers whose names were engraved upon the stone across the street.

 

 

These photos were taken through the glass of the display window, so, perhaps not the very best. However, any effort to recognize and honor our brothers and sisters, I applaud.

I have asked the site for additional information about these guys and will update if I hear back from them.

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 March 5th, we will make a return trip to Iowa, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Colorado XXXIII

I have noticed as I have traveled around the country that Vietnam memorials tend, with notable exceptions, to fall into one of three types. I call them "some version of The Wall," "chopper on a stick," and "comrades." 

The first two are pretty obvious I think and the third usually depicts soldiers on patrol, or a fallen solder being aided by others. Occasionally, someone has the forethought to include a women, always, of course, a nurse.

But, even more rarely than any of these is the inclusion of loved ones.

In western Colorado at what is called the Western Slope Vietnam Memorial, Richard Arnold,(Da Nang '65) has done just that. Richard has done several memorials around the country and has often included these overlooked family members.

Today, in this Faces of Remembrance post I will share the faces of the parents in addition to that of the returning Marine.

Mr. Arnold consulted with several vets while designing this memorial and they told him of how their parents had looked upon their return. Not overwhelmingly happy as Richard had imagined them, but more weary and haggard. Exactly what He was able to reflect in these faces.

 

 

And even more so in this Mother. 

Obviously, there is joy but, also, relief from the longest year of their live, too.

 

My brother, the very first to respond to this site all those years ago, commented on how our parents "were" during my tour and how their anxiety and concern increased as the days to my return decreased. I think Richard captured that very thing in this sculpture.

You can find the Western Slope Memorial and the Welcome Home statues at the memorial near Fruita, Colorado.

 

Please, I would ask that any reader who might have pics of Vietnam memorials not found on this site to send them to me. I will be happy to include them here and give the sender full credit. I would like to make this site as comprehensive as possible and my ability to travel to every site out there is limited, so, let me know what you have. You can contact me at the email on the left. 

 

Next time, on the 3rd of February, we will return to Connecticut, so, as always, meet me there at 9:00am.

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

California XXXIX

I ventured into the Naval base at Coronado while visiting the San Diego area a few years back. They have a large "Wall" commemorating those lost in Nam that I will write about in the not too distant future, but, today I want to show you this much smaller memorial that I found close by.

It honors the more than 200 "Gamewardens" of Task force 116 who were lost. TF-116 patrolled the waters of the Mekong Delta driving the Viet Cong into the smaller tributaries where the PBRs and larger boats could not go.

Just behind this obelisk are a couple of the vessels representative of the types these guys spent their time on.

These operations are considered the most successful of the Navy's efforts in 'Nam. The kill ratio was said to be 40/1.

I was a member of the "brown water Navy" even though I was Army. We (the army guys) trained at Norfolk Naval base and Ft. Eustis in Virginia. 

We ran supply of all types down the Mekong River, mostly to Dong Tam and Can Tho. As we were unarmed, except for a couple of M-14s, we were escorted by Navy PBRs while in river-ways. I don't know if they were these guys in particular, but we were mighty glad to have them along, as we sometimes caught fire and rockets from the Cong.

So, I was happy to see these guys commemorated individually from the larger Navy memorial here.

Once again, I would ask that any reader who might have pics of Vietnam memorials not found on this site to send them to me. I will be happy to include them here and give the sender full credit. I would like to make this site as comprehensive as possible and my ability to travel to every site out there is limited, so, let me know what you have. 

Next time, on the 29th, we will return to Colorado, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Holidqy season 2021 #3

So, today is the third and final non memorial post for this year. In looking for something interesting to post I noticed that I had photographed a number of arches on various trips to Ireland. Arches seem to capture the attention of many folks and I thought they might be good to  post. I will identify them where I can. Some, were taken many years ago and, sadly, were not well documented.

Update: with the help of my sister-in-law we have been able to pinpoint the locations!!

This was taken at the ruin at the Rock of Cashel. Originally at governing center for the kings of Munster it later became a religious center. It was here that Oliver Cromwell killed more than 1000 citizens as he ransacked much of Ireland.

These, too, are from Cashel also known as Saint Patrick's rock as he is said to have baptized the first christian king in Ireland at this site.

The original buildings built in the 4th century CE are now mostly gone and the religious ones, built some century's later, are all that remain.

This final set are from the Rosserk Abby in county Mayo. Sitting at the edge of the Moy River this beautiful site was built by Franciscans who labored to educate those from the area.

That is it for now. Next time, on the 4th, we will return to New Jersey or Pennsylvania (whichever one I can get to the most quickly,) for a resumption of posts honoring Vietnam memorials. I apologize for the history lesson here, but I was a teacher for some 35 years and just can't resist the opportunity to do so.

To see Vietnam memorials from any state, please click a state name from the list on the left side of this page.

South Carolina VIII

I have visited Patriots Point in Charleston in the past and have posted several photos from the extensive Vietnam compound elsewhere on this site.

But, my friend Mike Minnick visited more recently and shared these pics of a memorial that was not there when I visited or somehow I just missed it. Stranger things have happened.

 

 

This dog tag memorial was placed in 2014 during a visit from the  AVTT Vietnam Wall memorial. Many visited and this memorial was permanently placed.

 

 

 

The individual tags of the 896 South Carolinians were placed by local Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts.

 

Next time, on the 5th of December, we will return to Virginia, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

Thanksgiving 2021

Take just a moment.... 

 
 

Next time, on the 30th, we will revisit the previously promised state of South Carolina, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To visit memorials from any state, please click the state name on the left side of this page.

New York XXVI

Mike Minnick is a friend of mine and a superb photographer, he's one of those guys who rarely, if ever, manipulates a photo. He just has that good an eye and knows his stuff.

When in my last post I asked for pictures of memorials from others, he immediately sent me several.

The following are his pics of a memorial in Mount Morris, New York. Mount Morris is about 60 mikes east and a little south of Buffalo and as of 2010 had a population of fewer than 4500. AGAIN, I am stunned at what small towns do for their vets.

 

 

Like so many places that cannot afford memorials to individual wars, Mount Morris has created what is called a multi-war memorial, honoring many from many conflicts.

 

The large memorial just to the right of the star lists those from these wars who were lost in those efforts.

Seen here is what seems to be a later addition,the single name of the man lost in Vietnam.

 

Regardless, he is here, honored forever.

A nearby sign attempts to tell our story. It is a bit worn so...

Vietnam Conflict

The controversial war

Almost 9 million men and women

served in the military during this long

and unpopular war.Never losing a

major battle GIs sustained over

211,000 casualties, with 47,378 KIA.

While controversy at home continued,

it became evident that american

involvement had to end.

After the US military left, however,

the North vietnamese engaged in a 

blood bath in the south. It was to spill

over to the "killing fields" of Cambodia.

There is more here that I will post at a future date.

In the meantime, join me at 11:00 hour of the 11th day of the 11th month for a look at a few memorials dedicated to all veteran.

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

Maryland XXXIII

I have posted from Harve de Grace before and you can find that one elsewhere on this site, but I had read about a new memorial in the historic town but could not quite remember what it was about.

So, on a recent day trip to find new memorials for this site, I decided to take a chance and check it out.

After a little bungling around the beautiful town, visiting the original memorial, I finally had to ask someone. A very nice lady having her lunch along the river walk directed me to the new memorial.

It, too, is along the river walk and can be reached from Concord Street.

 

 

Since initial installation, better walking access and lighting have been added to the site.

 

The various panels all have specific meaning as you will see in the final picture.

Obverse

 

 

 

I realize that is not specifically a Vietnam memorial, but there were about 58,279 Gold Star Families from that effort so I choose to honor them with this post. My own family qualifies from WWII and the GWOT.

Next time, on November 1st, we will visit that memorial in Massachusetts I teased about in the post before this one, so meet me there, as always, 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.

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.

Delaware XIX

I have traveled to Delaware on a couple of occasions to find and photograph this memorial. One time, I just could not run down exactly where it was, the next time having resolved that issue, I found that the common area was closed to all due to some kind of construction. This time, more determined than ever, I followed my GPS instructions to the letter only to find, once again, the way blocked by tarp covered fencing.

 

 

After driving around trying to find access to the area I was about to throw in the towel once again. But, I pulled back into the closed area and noticed a door open to the maintenance facility. I wondered in and this really nice guy explained where it was and even took me through some buildings to show me how to get to it. He said he would not chance just leaving my car where it was as it might be ticketed or towed.

I drove around some more with a better feeling for what I was looking for and found some metered parking. I left the car and headed out and before too very long I had found the Memorial Hall. I knew I was in the right area and wandered around to the north side of the building and, finally located the stone and metal marker.

 

 

It is quite small but is unique in its wording as you will see.

 

I have never seen the use of the words "Asian conflicts" on any other memorial. I am not quite sure that the Persian Gulf qualifies as an Asian conflict, but...

 

I traveled on in Delaware to find other sites but was just plain out of luck. The last on was on Dover AFB but was closed by the time I arrived, so another time I'll venture back.

Next time, on the 17th, we will return to Idaho, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

West Virginia XII

This memorial surely qualities as America's newest. It is so new that it will not even be dedicated until September 18th. (at 2pm should you be in the area)

I have been in contact with the folks behind it for at least a couple of years and recently they informed me of the upcoming ceremony. I hope to be there.

However, I was in the Berkeley Springs area a week or two back and decided to check it out before the crowds show up.

It sits on a median strip to the right of the Morgan County Courthouse with other war memorials.

On the from panel are listed the seven who perished along with those who served.

On the left side of the memorial are listed those who served during the Vietnam Era.

 

On the right side are listed those who moved to Morgan County after serving.

On the obverse is a poem by Mr. Hampe. The Hampes were instrumental in getting the memorial built, a project of nearly ten years.

Next time, on the 2nd of September, we will return to California, so meet me there at 9:00am.

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