West Virginia IX

About 22 miles south of Frostburg, Maryland is Keyser, West Virginia and at the Mineral County Courthouse you will find this memorial to 80 from the county who gave their all to our county's wars.

Thirteen of these were lost in Vietnam.

I have read that a man from the area disputes these numbers as far too low and is attempting to collect additional data. It will be interesting to see just what he finds.

Next time, on the 3rd of August, we will make a return trip to Alaska, so meet me there at 9:00am.

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

Washington XIX

While scrounging around in my files for something to post, once again I found some pictures. As I have noted previously the pandemic is keeping me home, I have not taken any new photos in months so am always on the lookout within my own files for something new.

These are from a site in Ellensburg, Washington and I actually thought I had posted them some time ago. These are not the best quality as the day was wet, cloudy, and just not very nice.

The field Cross here is a more recent version of the tradition begun in the Civil War. Each version of it is updated to the boots, weapons, and helmet of the particular war.

There are about 4,000 of these bricks but the majority do not yet have names on them. I found these dedicated to our comrades in Vietnam. There were more, most likely. And, many more bricks wait to be engraved with our sons, daughters and, eventually, our grandchildren.

Once again, please pretend not to notice the poor quality of these pics.

Next time, on the 29th, we will make another visit to West Virginia, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

Virginia XVIII

I continue to be drawn back to the Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia. It is a treasure trove of memorials many of which are to those who fought and died in Vietnam.

I have visited on several occasions and while looking over some of my photos, I found another that I have not posted.

Steve and I were leaving the outside memorial area and we came upon this wall being worked on by Museum employees.

It is dedicated to the Marine's service in the Pacific and was just having the final plaque attached as we walked up.

While this plaque does not mention Vietnam, it is clear from the dates of the losses that these men were lost in 'Nam.

Next time, on the 24th, we will return to Washington, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Utah VII Faces of Remembrance

As you know, I have visited all 50 states on this journey, some more than others and I must say that I might have spent the least time in Utah. Something I need to remedy as soon as I can get out of this Coronovirus quarantine and back on the road. Hard to say when that might happen.

Today, I was looking through my files and came upon these faces from Utah and in keeping with the Faces of Remembrance subgroup of this effort, I thought I would honor them.

This first picture is from the state memorial in Salt Lake City on the capitol grounds. This memorial which is dedicated to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia is the only one that I have seen that mentions these two additional sites. Places we were said to have never been, for all too long.

These next two are from The Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City, and it pays tribute to the Americans and the Vietnamese who so often fought side by side.

West Valley City is only about 10 miles from Salt Lake City, so, an easy visit.

Next time, on the 19th, we will return to Virginia, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

Pennsylvania XXIX

A while back I traveled to the Scranton, Pennsylvania area with our friends, Mike and Nancy, because Scranton claims to be the Pizza Capital of the U.S.

Nancy is from that area and knew all the right places to visit. We had a great time and great pizza, who could ask for more?

The area is also a treasure trove of Vietnam memorials. Many of the small towns and boroughs in the area have memorials. Some are multi-war, of course, but all the ones we found included Vietnam in them or actually had separate, individual memorials to those lost or missing in 'Nam.

Today, I will share some of the elements of the Lacawana Court House Memorial. It, like so many others is a tribute to many wars and features quotes from our forefathers and other more recent notables like JFK.

The long wall that runs along the front of the court house contains many of these quotes.

In a section framed by two flagpoles is the Vietnam section of the wall.

Fifty six of the areas finest are remembered and honored here.

The picture, which is a bit unusual for a memorial, depicts not only the horrors of the war which were many, but also, the touching moments of decency and kindness that are all too often neglected or overlooked.

There are at this site a couple of other memorials to 'Nam, but I will leave them for another time.

Next time on the 14th, we will return to Utah, so, as always, join me there at 9:00am.

BTW, this is the 800th post in this series, I wonder if I will get to 1,000? I may need your help with that. More on that later.

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

Independance Day 2020

I usually try to write something special each year to commemorate the 4th of July, but this year I was coming up empty.

I am not sure if it is related to the ongoing Coronovirus problems and the seeming mishandling of them, or the inability to redress the concerns of so many of our citizens leading to the unrest and turmoil in the streets or just why I don't seem able to write my usual yearly tribute.

Then, a couple of days ago I got an update from National Geographic's Genome Project. I had sent in a DNA sample several years ago and had actually pretty much forgotten about it. They were alerting all who contributed that the project was closing down its public access and if you wanted the information, you needed to download it before June 30.

So, I got looking at it again and much seems to have been added. They now trace your DNA travel from Africa to wherever your genetic ancestors roamed. All very interesting even if some of the science is largely above my pay-grade. My fathers ancestors left Africa and headed up the west coast of Europe ending up in Ireland. My mother's fore bearers went through the Middle East, Asia, across Europe and finally landed in Scotland.

Anyway, they also include a bunch of people with whom you share DNA. Not sure if that actually makes one related to these folks but for today"s purposes, it'll do!

Among those with whom I share DNA are Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. And, even if not actually related, I like to think so and what they would make of America today.

The more we study and learn about these men, or any others for that matter, the more flawed we discover them to be, just like the rest of us. They clearly had great abilities, flashes of genius and greatness and despite their seemingly many flaws brought this Nation into being: with all it flaws and flashes of genius and greatness.

So, on this July 4th, I stand in humble hope that we as Americans, as citizens, as human beings can find a means to better ourselves, our country, our world, and try to live up to the hopes and dreams of the American ideal, to reach for the flashes of genius and greatness that all our citizens, our brothers and sisters, strive for and so rightly deserve.

Even with all our flaws.

Next time, on the 9th, we will head back to Pennsylvania, so meet me there at 9:00am.

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

New York XXII

I have written about Eisenhower Park, on Long Island, in the past and while going through some pictures I found a few odds and ends that I thought I might post.

As I have mentioned previously this park is really quite spectacular and if you ever have the opportunity be sure to visit.

Every once in a while I find a memorial to those lost to Agent Orange. I once heard of a movement to get a National Memorial built to AO on The Mall in DC., but it seems to have become part of VVMF's In Memory Project which honors all who have died from any related cause since the end of the war. So, finding one specific to these terrible plague is always meaningful. 

A tribute to a Medal of Honor recipient, apparently from the area.

A loving, lasting memory. If this site is like others around the country these tributes are collected each day, so this one may have just been left.

And, finally, as I always say, I love when our hero dogs are remembered. I don't know why but it seems to humanize the war just a little for me.

Next time, a little early, on the fourth, I hope to have something up. Check back at 9:00am to see if I got it done!

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