Texas XVI

South West Texas State University may be best known as the place from which President Lyndon B. Johnson graduated in 1930. It is the only Texas school to have ever produced a President or Vice-president.

It also honors its alum who have fought and died, too.

This memorial garden honors those lost in several wars and Vietnam holds its place of remembrance.

When I found this spot, not actually easy as no students could direct me to it, I was surprised to find that one student from SWTSU had died in Nam.

Just at the very bottom of the memorial is the name Sammie Don Hoff and some research found that he was shot down in 1966. He was known to have ejected from his aircraft but was lost.

In 1988 his remains were returned to the U.S. and were able to be identified along with those of the pilot of the plane, Captain Kenneth D. Robinson.

Once more I must comment on what some places do for a single lost soul. 

Nearby, I found this simple marker to a 'Nam vet who came home to become a teacher here at SWTSU.

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

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

Rhode Island XI

North Smithfield, Rhode Island lost five of her sons to the war in Vietnam.

Located about 25 miles north and slightly west of Providence it was founded in 1666 and as of 2010 had a population of around 12,000.

They honor their sons with this memorial that as you will see was the result of a Boy Scout's efforts. I have seen a few memorials around the country for which this was the case, but it is not common.

The last words on the memorial are certainly inspiring, and even though they are in quotes, I can find no information on by whom they were said and when. If anyone out there knows I would like

to hear from you. I am often pleased by the responses and help from readers, so do your thing and then get in touch. The email to the left is private if you prefer that over leaving a public comment.

Next time, on the 28th, we will revisit Texas, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Pennsylvania XXII

I spent some time n Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania recently and visited the Vietnam memorial at Luzerne County Courthouse about which I will post more at a later time.

However, directly across the street is a small, unassuming, memorial for those from Kings College who were lost. It honors the many from various wars but, Vietnam is not forgotten.

 I have been completely unsuccessful at finding anything about this site. There is nothing on the college web pages and, seemingly, nothing anywhere on the internet.

 I did find this comment that I copied from an interview with a Vietnamese refugee named Mr. Bui. in 2009.

"Our sponsor was a young, brave college student from King's College, Pennsylvania, Denise Goodwin. Denise still stays in touch with my oldest daughter and one of my sisters to this very day. While my daughter was attending college as a midshipman/engineering cadet at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, she visited Denise and her family on Long Island, New York."

If you have information about this memorial or the number from Kings College lost, I would love to hear from you.

Next time on the 23rd we will venture back to Rhode Island, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

New York XX

Today, in keeping with my on-going subgroup, Faces of Remembrance, I will share the guys from the memorial in Troy, New York.

I was unable to determine if the three soldiers were modeled on actual people or not, but usually they are not to prevent legal issues later on, but it never hurts to look.

Not being artfully inclined in any way, I am always astounded at how much emotion, life, and reality these artist able to capture in the faces of these our brothers and sisters.

These three heroes along with the names of the 45 from the area who were lost may be found in River Front Park on the east side of the Hudson River in Troy.

Next time on the 17th, we will revisit Pennsylvania, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

New Jersey XV

Just a few blocks off the New Jersey Turnpike is Runnemede and they have a really impressive Veterans memorial.

I found it while just driving around New Jersey to see what I might find and almost missed it, but luck prevailed.

The main memorial as with so many is to WWII veterans, but of to the right there is a stand alone memorial to all who served in 'Nam.

There are a couple designated by a star that were lost.

I noticed that over on the left side at the bottom of a larger section honoring Korean War vets there were more names listed from Vietnam. I have been unable to track down why these are listed here, but I assume they are names discovered after the stand alone was dedicated. This happens all the time and I have commented a number of times in the past about it is a very rare memorial that has not been added to over the years. Names are frequently added to The Wall in DC in May. None have been added in the last two years so one wonders (hopes?) that perhaps the last name has been added leaving the total at 58,318, but time will tell.

Runnemede is about eight miles south of Camden and off exit 3 on the turnpike and located at Black Horse Pike and Constitution Road.

Next time, on the 12th, we will check out New York, so join me there, as usual at 9:00am.

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

Massachusetts XV

I love Massachusetts. Beautiful towns, great scenery and remarkable memorials to their veterans. The state memorial in Worcester is one of the first I saw on this journey and one of my very favorites. You can find it elsewhere on this site.

Northbridge lies about 40 or so miles west and a little south of Boston and they have a beautiful Vietnam memorial.

It sits across the street from the Town Commons on Main Street near the intersection of Hill and Linden Streets.

The two adjacent panels list the name of the more than 400 from the area who served in 'Nam.

The granite used is meant to honor The Wall in DC and the top of the center piece is "rocked" to resemble the state memorial.

In the plaza surrounding the memorial there are pavers honoring many of those who served. these pavers are often sold as fundraisers to help with the cost of memorials and frequently they are available to buy long after the memorial is complete.

Also, I have seen the town referred to as Whitinsville so take note if following Google or AAA, etc.

The memorial was dedicated at 11:00am on the 11/11/11.

Next time, on the 7th, we will make a return trip to New Jersey, so meet me there at 9:00am.

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