National Vietnam War Veterans Day 2020

Today is National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

It was recognized in 2012 when the the President created a 13 year remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the war, those who served and those who paid so dearly.

In 2017 it was made a holiday and designated as one of the several days on which the U.S. flag should be displayed. It joins over 1500 "Days" recognized in the U.S.

The 29th of March is generally recognized as the day the last combat troops left Vietnam, although there is some disagreement about that.

So, if you choose to recognize, I hesitate to say celebrate, though others do, Vietnam War Veterans Day there are several suggestions on "national daycalendar" web page.

• Thank a Vietnam Veteran.
• Buy them a drink or lunch.
• Visit a local memorial. Volunteer to help organize events. 
• Support a veteran’s organization in your community. Volunteer and offer your skills.
• Watch a Vietnam War documentary such as The Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick or Last Days in Vietnam directed by Rory Kennedy or Vietnam Nurses by Timeline.
• Read about the Vietnam War in books like Vietnam – A History by Stanley Karnow or They Marched into Sunlight: War and Peace, Vietnam and America, October 1967 by David Maraniss or The Quiet American by Graham Green and Robert Stone.

Send them a shout out using #VietnamWarVeteransDay on social media.

These ideas were taken from the nationaldaycalendar
.com web site.

I should also point out, I guess, as several sites do, to not confuse this day with Veterans Day which honors all veterans.

I had planned to write about Virginia today, but this seems more appropriate, so look for Virginia next time.

So, as mentioned above, join me on the 3rd of April for that post from Virginia.

To see more memorials from around the country, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

New Jersey XVII

I drove through Greencastle, Pennsylvania and happened to see this VFW. I stopped to check it out and while there is no specific Vietnam memorial here, there are several markers to the lost.

These small stones rest at the base of the flag poles and as you can see there are five honoring the lost from a number of wars.

Two specifically mention Vietnam among other involvements.

The breadth of service these two men willingly gave to their country, to us, is stunning, truly part of the greatest generation. We, the Vietnam generation, should be proud to have served with the likes of these.

Next time, on the 29th, I'll have a special post about National Vietnam War Veterans day, so check in, as always, at 9:00am.

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

 

Update: You know fatigue is an interesting thing and I guess I can only surmise that it is what caused me to post a site in Pennsylvania as one in New Jersey. I'll work to do better!

Massachusetts XVII

We have visited Middleboro before, but in looking through some files I saw some additional pics that I hope you you might find interesting.

There are two Blue Spruce trees planted here, one for a WWI soldier and one for a Vietnam brother. His name was Wayne Caron and he was wounded three times while trying to save other soldiers, before he was finally killed.  They are both Meal of Honor recipients and each has a tree dedicated to him.

Dedication plaque for Corpsman Caron.

A little beyond the spruce is this marker for era vets. The following pic is a bit unusual as it calls itself an "Era" memorial but lists the names and sites where several were lost.

Detail from above, note the names and locations.

Next time, on the 24th, we will revisit New Jersey, so join 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.

Idaho X

In going through old file of pictures I ran across this one for my trip to Idaho.

I had been driving around and ended up in Kuna and came across this park and got to wondering who this guy was and if he was a Vietnam vet.

Turns out he was a 'Nam vet and the first Air Force member awarded the Medal of Honor in Vietnam.

While on a mission he witnessed another pilot get shot down. He called for a rescue chopper but decided there was not time to wait, so, against advice he decided to land his plane on a runway that was under siege and covered with debris. He rescued the other pilot, whom he had met on occasion, and got them both out safely even though his plane was hit many time.

The park has an amphitheater, gazebo, playing fields and lots of play equipment and was dedicated in 2007.

Col. Fisher lived in Kuna and passed away in 2014.

Next time on the 19th we will revisit Massachusetts, so meet me there at 9:00am.

To see other memorials from Idaho, or any other state, p,ease click the state name on the left side of this page.

Georgia XVI

It surprised me to find that I had not posted these Faces of Remembrance pictures previously.

They are from the Georgia Vietnam Memorial found at the Pete Wheeler Georgia War Memorial Plaza adjacent to the Capitol building in Atlanta that I have featured elsewhere on this site.

The Faces of Remembrance effort on A Means to Heal is an attempt to tell our story through the eyes and faces of those depicted in the statues and memorials honoring them and our efforts in that far away place.

The faces, far too often, show fear, pain, disillusionment and sometimes a disconnection from humanity as seen, too often, in the Thousand Yard Stare.

So, what do we see here?

Here, perhaps, the acceptance that this is the price we pay.

The Nurse, I think, as seen far too much.

And, I know it is just a result of weathering, but this guy seems to be shedding a tear for his buddy or perhaps for us all.

Yeah, yeah, all of this is just my opinion and we all know what opinions are worth. Have a different view? Let me know in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you.

So, on the 14th we will take another trip to Idaho, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

Florida XX

One of the most direct routes across Florida is route 70, all 148 miles of it. Steve and I left Venice and headed over to Port St. Lucie on the east coast and then south into the Keys.

As we traveled along we happened upon Okeechobee a town of about 5,000. We hadn't planned to go there specifically so we did not expect to find this really great Veterans Memorial Park. I repeat myself, I know, but what small towns do for the vets often amazes me!

The park is just loaded with tributes and artifacts and we spent quite a bit of time just looking about and enjoying the results of what must have been an enormous effort by the people here.

These stones record the names of hundreds of people who have fought in our wars. The names are listed on both side of these stones, hundreds of them. There are two more stones on the other side of this site.

The memorial actually faces in this direction with the six stones above behind this wall. These three stones below honor the lost from World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam and  Iraq/Afghanistan.

Ten of our brothers from this small town are honored here.

A couple of the artifacts are shown here including the ubiquitous Huey and this tank. I have to admit that it was not until I returned home that I learned that tanks were even used in 'Nam as I never saw one during my tour.

By looking closely at these last two pics you can get an idea of just how big this park is. Quite and honor for those involved and those remembered.

So, next time on the 9th, we will revisit Georgia, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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