Rhode Island X

Practically on the Massachusetts border about 15 miles north of Providence is Woonsocket, Rhode island.

This really nice memorial to those lost in Vietnam is made of polished black granite greatly resembling The Wall in DC.

Dedicated on November 11th, 1984 it lists their names, all 17 from the area.

A unique piece of this story is retold upon the wall. The school children of the Woonsocket public and Catholic systems raised the money so that these might be remembered always.

IN MAY OF 1984, DURING THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
THE STUDENTS FROM THE ELEMENTARY AND JR. HIGH SCHOOLS
OF THE CITY OF WOONSOCKET AND CATHOLIC REGIONAL
SCHOOL SYSTEMS UNITED TO RAISE FUNDS
IN A PROJECT ENTITLED “WE REMEMBER”
TO PAY TRIBUTE AND ASSURE AN EVERLASTING MEMORIAL
TO THOSE WHO SERVED WITH DIGNITY AND HONOR
IN AMERICA’S LONGEST AND MOST UNPOPULAR WAR. 

The question of which is America's longest war depends from when you  are marking the war. The most common time frame of Vietnam is from '59 to '75, 14 years. But, if you count from when the first American solder was actually killed, 1956, you get a completely different count. So, I guess the debate will continue, perhaps far in to our future. It matters not to these honored here.

The memorial may be found on the corner of Worrall Street and Clinton Street near the post office and police station.

Next time, on July 4th, I'll have a special post, so take moment out from the celebrations, BBQ's, and fireworks to check it out.

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

Pennsylvania XXVI

Driving north from Frederick, Maryland into southern Pennsylvania, you can find Mountain Pass where we just happened upon this Monterey Pass Battlefield Park.

On the wall of the small building there, which was closed on this particular day, we found this touching memorial to a lone Vietnam vet.

We could find no additional information, but perhaps, none is needed.

The plaque says it all.

Often, these small, lesser known memorials are greater in impact than the their more famous cousins as they tell these individual stories of bravery, dedication and heroism.

Having visited most of the larger ones now, I am often humbled by these, the individual stories of our brothers and sisters.

Long may they be remembered.

Next time, on the 29th, we will revisit Rhode Island from which I have just returned, so meet me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Oklahoma VIII

 
Once the Oklahoma Vietnam Memorial this site is still striking. While several wars are commemorated here, The Big Guy, a Nam vet, still watches over them all.

He continues to peer over at the Capitol building in constant reminder of the consequences of decisions made by our leaders: the decisions we pay the price for.

Oklahoma representatives moved the "official" site to Enid after the town purchased a retired Traveling Wall, but, the Big Guy doesn't care. He just stands sentry.

In keeping with my effort to single out faces, to see what the sculptors were trying to say, he is the next in The Faces of Remembrance series of posts. I see fatigue mixed with sadness.

I found this face on the Bas Relief of a scene of a Huey dropping off troops to face whatever comes next. He seems watchful above all else to me.

Another from the Bas Relief. Resignation? Grief?

Next time, on the 24th, we'll have another look in Pennsylvania, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

New York XIX

Eisenhower Park, on Long Island, is a wonderful place of fun, sports, picnics and all you might expect. It is also a reverent place of remembrance.

I have posted before about a couple of the Vietnam memorials in the park and there is also a beautiful memorial to those lost on September 11th.

Today, I want to show you the last of the Vietnam memorials I found there on my trip a couple of years ago.

It is smaller but no less dignified or important than its larger companions located not far away. It is often the case that these smaller memorials were placed first and later "updated" by the newer, larger ones.

I especially like when the planers and makers of these memorials think to include those affected differently by the war.

Nearby are a couple of interesting features of the park that relate to 'Nam, but are not memorials in this sense. In a future post I will share them with you.

Next time, on the 19th, we will return to Oklahoma for another in my Faces of Remembrance series, so meet me there at 9:00am.

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

New Jersey XIV

The memorial here began as a single stone honoring those who served and the four from the area that were lost in WWII.

At some later date, a second stone was added to give the same recognition and honor to those who were lost in Korea and Vietnam.

As recently as 2008 there were only two names on the second monument, one from Korea and one from Vietnam.

As you can see, this has changed significantly.

This painted stone was left, probably by a child, for someone they might have never met.

The small, lovely, park is a very pleasant and calming place to visit and honor these brave patriots.

The memorial is located in the Kirkwood area of Voorhoos, near the intersection of Spruce Drive and Burnt Mills Road near the fire station.

Next time, on the 14th, we'll stay in the slip across the river to New York. Meet me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Massachusetts XIV

I stumbled upon Bridgewater, Massachusetts' Central Square and found this multi-war memorial.

The memorial honors WWI, Korea, and the Global War On Terror in addition to the seven lost in Vietnam.

Guarded by this eagle it also reminds us that freedom is not free.

It is finding these unexpected memorials that so often makes this journey so interesting and one of the reasons I continue to chase down any memorials I can find. As I write this I am just back from a trip to Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island where I found a number of "new" memorials that I will include on these pages as a later date.

Next time, on the ninth, we will head on down the east coast to New Jersey, so as always, meet me there at 9:00am.

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