Kansas X

Washburn University is in Topeka, Kansas. It is a small University with in the neighborhood of 7,000 students today. One wonders what that number might have been in 1968? I was unable to track down that information.

Founded just after the Civil War it has undergone name changes over the years and was nearly closed during especially difficult financial times, but it survived.

Ten Vietnam veterans and a professor, Lee Dodson, decided that the members of the student body that were lost in Vietnam needed to be remembered and honored.

It turns out that these numbered 47. I am not sure, but for such a small school that seems like a lot.

 

The Washburn University Vietnam memorial sits near 18th and College, near Morgan Hall.

 

It honors all who served...

 

...and is dedicated to the 47 lost.

Next time, the 13th, we will revisit Maryland, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Indiana XI

As I have mentioned often, because of the pandemic I have not traveled, except for a couple of relatively local day trips, since March of 2020. On that trip to Alaska I was able to take some shots of memorials in several places. All of those have been posted and may be found elsewhere on this site.

The point is that I am spending all of my time, now, searching files from past trips looking for something to share with all of you.

I am surprised on occasion to find memorials from states where I thought I had exhausted all possibilities.

Today is one of those times. Just perusing files I found this memorial from Brazil, Indiana.

Located on the grounds of the Clay County Courthouse is the memorial to those from the county lost in "Nam."

The jet, by the way, is an F-86 "Sabre Jet" although I could find no documentation that these ever flew in Vietnam.

The two panels list the names of the ten lost.

The memorial is found at the Courthouse on the corner of East national avenue and south Alabama street.

Next time, on the 8th, we will take another look at Kansas, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Florida XXIII

This memorial is interesting because it is chrome which makes it really stand out in the Florida sun, but very hard to photograph for the same reason.

It is located at a VFW in Melbourne although there seemed to be no one there when Steve and I visited.

 

 

A simple plaque embedded in stone speaks to the sacrifice of these men and the importance of their efforts.

 

"IF WE BELIEVE IN OUR WAY OF LIFE THEN THE VOICES OF ALL FREE MEN WILL RESOUND ACROSS THE NATION AND MEN WILL LISTEN."

 

The attached plaque.

 

 

"For Those Who Fought For It, Freedom Has A Flavor The Protected Will Never Taste"

 

Near by on its separate stanchion is the following.

 

The VFW is on Dairy Road in Melbourne. 

Next time on the 3rd of August we will revisit Indiana, so join me there at 9:00am.

 

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

Delaware XVII

About 5 miles southwest of Wilmington, Delaware is Newport and I had heard or read that there was a memorial there. So, on a recent trip to the area I decided to check it out.

As luck would have it when it came to writing about it, I could find absolutely nothing. I had my pics, but no information.

Not one to give up easily, I searched and searched my various sites to gather some information. Nothing. So, I began to wonder how it was that I even knew to go see it? I could not find a trace of it in my notes etc., but the info had to be somewhere.

Happily, in stumbling around the internet I was able to discover that it was originally a Pearl Harbor Memorial.

Note that the weapon is sinking to the left.

 

Dedicated on December 7th, 2014 it includes a number of markers to a number of our Nation's wars.

 Vietnam is among them.

I found it interesting that the dates and the numbers seem to date from The Gulf of Tonkin era. This is not too uncommon although I am never sure why this happens. We had had soldiers in 'Nam for nine years by 1964, the first of which was killed in 1956 and the final total of those lost is 58, 279.

 I have written before about what sometimes seems to be an effort to rewrite history, often, it seems, to blame Kennedy or Johnson for our involvement in Vietnam. I could be very wrong but it often feels as if there is a political agenda behind these efforts. As I said, I could be wrong, I hope so.

This memorial may be found at the intersection of E. Market Street and S. Augustin Street in Newport.

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

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

Colorado XXXI

While just driving around Colorado near Denver I passed a military cemetery.

 

Sometimes these have wonderful memorials like at Arlington, Va or Riverside, California, so I took a chance and stopped in to see if I might find something.

 

Military cemeteries are always beautiful, well kept, orderly, dignified and that is what I found here.

 

Oddly, I parked in an area where there was no sign, no name, no identification at all: just endless headstones. I was able to track down the name: Fort Logan National Cemetery.

These are a few of the memorials here among the many.

I was able to find a few markers that honor those who served or were lost in Vietnam.

It is interesting to me that the only marker that can be read in the above photo is of someone who served in several wars including Vietnam.

 

 

A beautiful place indeed to lie among your 96,000 brothers and sisters.

R.I.P.

Next time, on the 24th, we will revisit Delaware, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

California XXXV

When traveling northwest from Los Angeles to Oxnard, as I have often done, you pass through the town of Camarillo. I have found a couple of small memorials here and today I will share the one located at the Bob Kildee Community Park.

At the Pleasant Valley Aquatic Center there, just under the portico, is a tribute to those from the area who made the final sacrifice.

These, those of us lost, will be remembered and honored here forever.

I could find no connection between Bob Kildee and the memorial. He was a local business man and is honored by having the park bear his name. I could find even less about why the memorial was placed at this particular location but the 15 remembered here will be seen and hopefully remembered by all those entering the aquatic center for years and years to come.

Next time, on the 19th, meet me right here while we revisit Colorado. 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.

Alaska XI

Just a quick, promised, update today.

When I last wrote about the memorial at Wasilla, Alaska, I said I had no idea how Patrick Roy, my son's brother's name came to be listed among those honored. I, also, promised to try to find out and update you here if I learned anything.

Well, I tracked down some of the folks who are responsible for the memorial and they explained that Pat's name, along with all the others lost on the USS Cole, was added at the request of one of the service organizations. So, all of the 17 lost on the Cole are remembered here along with many others both living and dead.

Reading the other names on this panel I recognize some of them as pat's shipmates, one of whom is from Wasilla. I don't know them all, but I suspect this is the full listing. Here together, as then.

Sometimes faith is restored.

Next time, on the 14th, we'll check back on California, so join me there at 9:00am.

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