Pennsylvania XXXIX

Behind a shopping center in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania is what has been thought to be the oldest Vietnam memorial in the country. Facts have determined that this is not quite accurate, but it is still one of the very, very earliest tributes to those who fought in the war.

Dedicated in November of 1966, the memorial seemed to be lost as it was overwhelmed by brush in what, over time, became an abandoned parking lot for a bank.

It was rediscovered and stored until a new site could be found for it. The memorial was a canon on a stone pedestal with a plaque honoring those who served. Before the re-dedication the canon was stolen.

There are several benches for rest and reflection

 

The canon was replaced, the stone pedestal rebuilt and the original plaque   reattached.

 

 

Today, it rests here, within the new shopping center where thousands must have walked past it.

 

 

Chadds Ford has much to offer anyone who might want to visit and to 'Nam vets, their families and others this must be one of the most visited and important.

 

 

The memorial may be found on Veterans Drive in the Brandywine Mills shopping center.

Next time, on the 18th, we will, for the first time, visit Puerto Rico. Join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

I will ask, as I do at the end of nearly 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, or anywhere you may have visited, from the list at the left, or any place else. Please send them to the email at the left or directly to me at Ldddad@comcast.net. Thanks!