Holidqy season 2021 #3

So, today is the third and final non memorial post for this year. In looking for something interesting to post I noticed that I had photographed a number of arches on various trips to Ireland. Arches seem to capture the attention of many folks and I thought they might be good to  post. I will identify them where I can. Some, were taken many years ago and, sadly, were not well documented.

Update: with the help of my sister-in-law we have been able to pinpoint the locations!!

This was taken at the ruin at the Rock of Cashel. Originally at governing center for the kings of Munster it later became a religious center. It was here that Oliver Cromwell killed more than 1000 citizens as he ransacked much of Ireland.

These, too, are from Cashel also known as Saint Patrick's rock as he is said to have baptized the first christian king in Ireland at this site.

The original buildings built in the 4th century CE are now mostly gone and the religious ones, built some century's later, are all that remain.

This final set are from the Rosserk Abby in county Mayo. Sitting at the edge of the Moy River this beautiful site was built by Franciscans who labored to educate those from the area.

That is it for now. Next time, on the 4th, we will return to New Jersey or Pennsylvania (whichever one I can get to the most quickly,) for a resumption of posts honoring Vietnam memorials. I apologize for the history lesson here, but I was a teacher for some 35 years and just can't resist the opportunity to do so.

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

Christmas morning 2021

Most years I try to get down to The Wall for a photo of the tree that is erected there each year, but this year with all the Covid and some personal health issues I just didn't make it.

 

So, I pulled this pic of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund's (VVMF) page. I am not sure if that is OK, but I trust they will understand. 

I hope that you all are enjoying time with your loved ones in person or in spirit and that the new year will bring peace and better times to all.  

Next time, on the 30th, I will post one more non memorial post, so join me then and see what's up.

Again, happy holidays and seasons greetings to all.

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

Holiday season 2021 #1

If you have been on this journey with me for any length of time, you know that at this time of the year I take a little time away from memorials. We should all be celebrating, in whatever fashion we do, the return of the light.

Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, and mankind has for most, if not all, of our history has found a way to mark this and welcome the return of the sun.

The next couple of posts will not specifically deal with light except for the fact that that is what photography is all about, light verses dark.

No lessons, just pics that I like.

Chief Little Owl greets all those who visit Bethany Beach, Delaware. This one made from a hand chosen red cedar log from Alaska replaces ones that have deteriorated over the years. The first was placed in 1976.

 

 

This one is projected to last up to 100 years. The artist Peter Toth has placed one such totem in each of the states and several across Canada.

 

The area at his base is always planted with vibrantly colored flowers in season.

Here's wishing you and yours a happy and peaceful season, come back on the 25th for a Christmas greeting. Join me at 9:00am.

 

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

Massachusetts XXII

In my last posting from Massachusetts, I shared some pics from my friend Jay Korff and promised to share more in the future and so today it is time to do just that.

Jay, as mentioned in the last post from Natick, is a reporter with the local ABC affiliate in Washington, DC and over the course of years has become a friend. He visited Natick, MA and sent me these photos.

I love it when others send me information, or corrections or photos and am always open to these contributions.

 

 

The Natick site has a couple of other features.

One is dedicated to the POW/MIAs of our nation, those that should never be forgotten.

You may know that the US and Vietnam have been engaged in a multi-year project to identify and bring home the remaining MIAs from that war. the number has been greatly reduced over the years, but, there is still much work to be done. Currently, there are still of our comrades unaccounted for as the work continues. One must only wonder if the job will ever be completed.

Detail from above

There are nearly 1250 still unaccounted for as of September. I checked my own state and there are still 23. You can check your own state here:

https://www.dpaa.mil/Our-Missing/Vietnam-War/Vietnam-War-POW-MIA-List/

Nearby is this interesting take on the Vietnam Service Medal.

So, this ends my photos that Jay so kindly sent me, but it gives me the opportunity, once again, to invite anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not found on this site to join Jay, and Mike Minnick, and others and send them to me. I will happily give you a photo credit and all the gratitude you can stand!

Next time, in keeping with my yearly tradition, I will post about things unrelated to 'Nam to try to keep some Joy in the Season. So join me on the 20th, at 9:00am, to see whats up!

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

California XXXVIII

Guadalupe is located about 3 1/2 hours north of Los Angeles along the Pacific coast. A town of fewer than eight thousand, they dedicated this memorial to the three from the area that were lost in 'Nam.

Many small towns, understandably, do not have individual memorials to every war. Guadalupe decided that our brothers from this particular war were to be honored with there own. Thank you, Guadalupe!

This memorial was dedicated in 2002 but it may surprise you that, nearly 20 years later' memorials to our lost brothers and sisters are still being built. There is a new one in Rome, NY and one, not yet completed in Nebraska. just too name a couple. If I ever get back on the road I hope to visit them and then bring them to you here. So, keep checking back to see whats next.

Next time, on the 15th, we will return to Massachusetts, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Virginia XXV

Traveling recently in southeast Virginia I was staggered by the beauty of the Autumn foliage. There at, seemingly, exactly the right time just added to my pleasure and fortune of finding a couple of Vietnam memorials, too.

Along the Pigg River at the foot of the Peter Saunders Bridge is this moving tribute to all who have served and those who have fallen in our wars. 

Rocky Mount, Va is located in Franklin County.

Listed here on the main memorial are the names of those lost in wars and the 1525 names honored on the pavers that make up the plaza honor vets from the area.

Our brothers, six of them, are remembered and honored here, too.

 

 

I always take the opportunity to point out the dates listed upon our many memorials. They are many and varied. I have seen beginning dates too numerous to list and ending dates as late as 1978.

Sometimes the beginning dates represent when the first casualty from the area took place or sometimes from the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Other times, sadly, it seems to be an attempt to rewrite history. For those who have not followed along on this journey, the first soldier killed in Vietnam was Tech. Sgt. Fitzgibbons who was lost in 1956. It took a number of years to have his name added to The Wall as his death fell outside the more accepted 1959 to 1975 span of the war. This was eventually corrected and he is now honored among the more than 58,000 others listed there.

Next time, on the 10th, we will revisit California, so join me there at 9:00am.

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