Illinois XVI

So, even a different view of faces. In this Faces of Remembrance series I have tried to show the different looks I have seen given to the statues I've found as I travel. Last time I showed some faces of vets and others seen at the dedication of the memorial in Honolulu. 

Then while once again searching my photos I came across these faces. These are unusual as they are faces of lost vets, but from a happier time. I guess they might be from their Basic training graduations.

I found them when I visited Havana, Illinois to photograph the memorial there. Across the street from the park where the memorial is, there was a storefront. the guy that owned it filled the display window with patriotic stuff and the pictures of many of the soldiers whose names were engraved upon the stone across the street.

 

 

These photos were taken through the glass of the display window, so, perhaps not the very best. However, any effort to recognize and honor our brothers and sisters, I applaud.

I have asked the site for additional information about these guys and will update if I hear back from them.

I will ask, at the end of every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state from the lost at the left.

Next time, on March 5th, we will make a return trip to Iowa, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Hawai'i' VII

Lately, since I have not been able to travel as much as I would like, I have been featuring faces from some of the memorials I have captured.

I thought that maybe it would be interesting to show some of the actual faces I've seen on my travels.

As it happens Hawai'i' is the perfect place to do that. I was invited to the dedication of the Vietnam memorial at The Punchbowl in Honolulu and all of the following faces were seen there. Only a couple will require any comment from me.

Mary Jacobs is the creator of the memorial (which you can find more about here.)

This guy may not be a 'Nam vet but he did us honor by placing a wreath at the new memorial. Thank you!

I can't swear that all these others are 'Nam vets but they sure do look like us and they all came to help dedicated this beautiful memorial as it took its place among the other memorials high on this hill overlooking the Punchbowl where so may lie. 

Mary Jacobs designed the WWII, and Korean War memorials, already in place here, more than 40 years ago. This, however, was the first dedication she had been able to actually attend, she was almost 90 at the time.

I will ask, at the end of every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state from the lost at the left.

Next time, on the 28th, we will return to Illinois for additional Faces of Remembrance, join me there at 9:00am.

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

Florida XXIV

Orlando, home of the "World's happiest place"(or something like that) is known by all. However, just a bit more than 20 miles NNE is a reminder that the world is not always happy, not always a place of fantasy.

On the north side of  Lake Baldwin is a veterans park and among the several memorials there is a a beautiful remembrance of our participation and partnership in the effort to help our Vietnamese allies.

I have written about this site before and you can find that post here.

Today, as I have been doing so often lately, I will share the faces of the two soldiers, one American and one Vietnamese, in the continuing Faces of Remembrance series.

 

 

I wonder if you see the same thing I see in these photos? I have noticed over the years that sometimes the artist will not focus on the actual face of the soldier depicted in a statue, but rather on some other feature or in an attempt to create an "everyman." Not often, but occasionally. (You will see that most clearly in a future post from Pennsylvania)

Look at the difference in these two faces. The detail in the American seems, to me, to be much greater than that of the Vietnamese soldier. At first I thought that it might be to some bias on the part of the sculptor, until I recalled that this is a memorial erected by a joint Vietnamese- American group, so that makes no sense at all. I wonder what is happening here, or am I just imagining the differences? Am I wrong?

The park may be found at 2380 Lake Baldwin Lane. 

Next time, on the 23rd, we will revisit Hawai'i' for something a little different, so join me there at 9:00am

I will ask, at the end of every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state from the lost at the left.

Reach me at the email listed on the left.

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

Delware XX

These faces taken from the memorial in Brandywine Park in Wilmington, Delaware are of the African American soldier carrying his wounded Caucasian comrade.

The somewhat dazed look on his face is nearly overwhelming. To any of us who lost a buddy, and who didn't, the emotion is obvious and painful.

The wounded comrade is clearly in terrible pain and his fear is unmistakable.

58,279, at last count, were lost in Vietnam and many thousands more still live with the wounds, physical and mental, that the war left with us. For me, remembering and honoring these, our lost brothers and sisters, helps. I hope it does for you. too.

Next time, on the 18th, we will return to Florida for some "Faces" from Orlando, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

I will ask, at the end of every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know.

You can reach me at the email on the left side of this page.

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

Connecticut XVIII

I found this small memorial on my way to Stamford, simply located at the side of a road in a small Veterans Park. Mounted upon a rock is a plaque. I have seen many like it in my travels and in my efforts to continue to find things to post that honor our brothers and sisters who served, I decided to see if I could pull out these "portraits" to add to the Faces of Remembrance series that I occasionally write about here. You notice, if you are one of those that follow along on this journey, that I am posting ever more of these as I comb through my files for new subjects.

Cropping photos out of larger one seems easy enough, but my software, far too often, just refuses to cooperate. I worked on pulling these faces out for far longer than I would have expected and while the results are usable, they are less that I had hoped for.

Regardless, they represent and honor those who served and/or were lost.

I think I see resignation on this face and perhaps just a little fear.

While this one seems a bit bemused, perhaps.

The plaque which you can find in a post elsewhere on this site has the following written on it.

Vietnam War 

The Trumbull Beautification Commission Dedicates This Park As A Living Memorial To The Men And Women Of Trumbull Who Served Their Country During The Vietnam War. 

 “Your Sacrifice Is Not Forgotten”. 

Nearby is an individual stone dedicated to David Rhodes who was killed in 1968, three days past his 21st birthday.

 Rest in Peace  

The park is located on White Plains Road just a little north of Brock Street in Trumbull.

I would ask that any reader who might have pics of Vietnam memorials not found on this site to send them to me. I will be happy to include them here and give the sender full credit. I would like to make this site as comprehensive as possible and my ability to travel to every site out there is limited, so, let me know what you have. You can contact me at the email on the left.  

Note: I had some issues getting this most recent post up and running and these threw off the timing of posts. So, the timing will be adjusted and I will make every effort to return to the every five days at 9:00am. schedule. 

Sorry for the confusion!

Next time, on the 13th, we will return to Delaware for a new "Faces of Remembrance," post, so meet me there at 9:00am.

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