New York XXIV

I happened into Port Jervis, New York after a PBS radio interview about this Vietnam Memorial project. It happened to be a day of come celebration as there was a soap box derby race and other festivities taking place. All really hometown and great fun, except, perhaps, for finding a parking space.

The Veterans Memorial Park is located directly in front of the church for which Stephen Crane's father was the pastor and within the park is a memorial to those lost in the Civil War. Crane lived in Port Jervis for a time.

 

Veterans Memorial Park.

 

Within the park there is also a Vietnam memorial. Consisting of two separate pieces it joins memorials to many other wars including the Revolutionary War which is the most recent placement. 

This piece lists the local men who served and highlights with a star the one who was lost.

The second piece is catalogues history. When I first saw it several soap box derby racers were parked directly behind it.

We now know that these numbers have been corrected through an audit by DoD and The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, but these are very close to being accurate. I especially like to see that they have included the correct years, most memorials and many people don't, choosing to use the more widely accepted, though incorrect, 1959 to '75 or, often, the years that reflect when the first soldier from a given site was lost. I have even seen as late as 1978 as the end of the war. So, again, good job to those who created this marker.

As many of you know, I take a week or two off from writing about memorials at the holiday season, so come back on the 21st to see different pics from different places. Could be Alaska or the southwest desert, or some other unusual site. Join me then at 9:00am, as always for something different.

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