Arizona XXXIV

Last time we visited Arizona, I shared a few pictures from the Eloy Vet Center. You can see that post here.

Directly across the street from the center is this small area donated by the city. It is considered a reflection/meditation spot and is really quite calming.

Caught between two buildings, I would have easily missed it if the guys at the Center had not offered to take me over to visit.

 

Murals cover the side of the one building.

Detail from the above mural.

It is not clearly stated anywhere, but these "always soldiers" sure seem to represent those of us who served in 'Nam. 

More general is this "Thank you" to those who severed, no matter when. It is a little hard to see but it is written in script at the lower left of the picture, under the arm of the saluting soldier.

There will be more pictures from this quite extensive site in the future, so be on the watch for them.

Next time, on the 1st of October, we will revisit California, so join me there, as always at 9:00am.

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

If you follow along here you know that I always ask readers to send me any memorials, that I have not featured here, that they may have seen, just like Joan, Anthony, Molly and others, I promise to give photo credits (which might only matter to professionals) and hope that some might do so. A number of you have honored me and our fellow vets by doing just that and I hope this will encourage more of you to get in touch.

If you have photos, please send them to the address at the right side of this page.

Wisconsin XVI

Today, I have the great pleasure of sharing some pics from Wisconsin, not that I have been there in quite some time.

Joan Geraldson was looking for a friend on line and ended up seeing some of these posts and so very kindly forwarded me some of her own pictures.

They are from a program called Wisconsin Remembers that was part of the effort to put a face to every name on The Wall. It was in conjunction with the effort to build an Education Center, underground, at The Wall in DC. that effort is now defunct, funding could not be secured.

The following are just a few of the pictures that Joan sent me, I will post others in a future post.

When I first began this project I was adamant that I take every picture that appears here. I felt it was my duty to stand in front of every memorial and pay my respects to my (our) lost brothers and sisters. So, it is great surprise how happy it makes me to share the photos from others. If you are following along, you know that in the last several post many are just that: pictures sent to me by others.

It gives me hope that others seeing these will do the same.

Thank you, again, to Joan for her kindness.

Next time, on the 26th, we will return to Arizona, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

If you follow along here you know that I always ask readers to send me any memorials, that I have not featured here, that they may have seen, just like Joan, Anthony, Molly and others, I promise to give photo credits (which might only matter to professionals) and hope that some might do so. A number of you have honored me and our fellow vets by doing just that and I hope this will encourage more of you to get in touch.

If you have photos, please send them to the address at the right side of this page.

West Virginia XVII

Just a brief visit today, back to Morgantown High School in West Virginia. These faces from the memorial on the grounds of the school are only a few of those remembered here. Others will follow in future posts.

 

1LT Ross and I were born in the same month and served in 'Nam at the same time. It is a little funny the details I notice while doing this work. 

I am writing this in the early hours of the morning before I go to my PTSD group at the local Vet Center. these photos and those they honor are a reminder that others paid a far larger debt than I was asked to pay.

Rest in Peace, brothers.

Next time, on the 21st we will revisit Wisconsin where a reader has kindly sent photos from a memorial there.

To see additional memorials from West Virginia, 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.

September 11, 2022

Once again we must pause to remember. Thousands of our fellow citizens,neighbors, friends, relatives, human beings were sacrificed: for reasons we will never fully understand. We could go on forever about the "whys" of this horrific event and probably never fully agree or understand the reasons or on what "would've, could've, should've been done in response, or to prevent. Never.

What we can do is remember. And, grieve. And honor those lost, injured, and affected by this ungodly act.

As you  may know, if you follow along here, I try to visit, photograph and honor 9/11 memorials wherever I may find them and then on most years try to post something here.

This year I have chosen to share a memorial found on The Commons in Boston.

The Commons is a beautiful park in central Boston. One could just wander for hours enjoying the trees, flowers, bridges and abundant water. Water birds of various types add much to the beauty and tranquility of the park. Along one of the many walkways you will come across this beautiful tribute to those lost on the 11th.

Time touches all more gently here,
here where man has said, No:
trees and grass, and flowers will remain,
where the first born sometimes sees
his father's eyes
reflected in the shallow pool,
feels an ancient heart beat
in the palm of his hand
pressed against a willow;
and seeking comfort, seeking shade
lies beneath the golden leaf elm
watching swanboats glide in season.

   Lawrence Homer from   

Boston and Sea Poems

So, once again on this day, like some others, that will "live in infamy" take a moment to remember, hug someone you love, vow to be better.

Next time, the aforementioned return to West Virginia ( in the previous post) will take place. Join me on the 16th, as always, at 9:00am.

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

If you follow along here you know that I always ask readers to send me any memorials, that I have not featured here, that they may have seen. I promise to give photo credits (which might only matter to professionals) and hope that some might do so. A number of you have honored me and our fellow vets by doing just that and I hope this will encourage more of you to get in touch.

If you have photos, please send them to the address at the right side of this page

Virginia XXXI

Falls Church, Virginia is a near-in suburb of Washington D.C., so in an area so steeped in our history it came as no surprise that I would find a memorial to our service in Vietnam. In fact, I found three, but more on that in future posts.

The VFW here (Post 9274) has honored its members by painting a mural on one side of its building.

 

Along with the VFW insignia, Vietnam, GWOT, and Desert Storm, are honored. 

Next time, on the 11th, we will revisit West Virginia, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

If you follow along here you know that I always ask readers to send me any memorials, that I have not featured here, that they may have seen. I promise to give photo credits (which might only matter to professionals) and hope that some might do so. A number of you have honored me and our fellow vets by doing just that and I hope this will encourage more of you to get in touch.

If you have photos, please send them to the address at the right side of this page.

Vermont XIII

This may turn out to be the shortest post I have ever made.

I will be asking you, anyone who chances across this, to help me identify just where this small, poignant, memorial is located.

I ran across it while perusing photos from New England. I think it is from Vermont, but as occasionally happens, I cannot verify that as absolute truth.

This, of course, is where you come in. You have always figured it out in the past when something similar has happened. I am counting on you!

What is important about it is that it reminds of us of the commitment we Vietnam vets made when Vietnam Veterans of America was formed.

As is well known and documented, many Vietnam vets were not warmly welcomed home. the stories you have certainly heard of the disrespect shown them (us) are true. Not all of it fell upon any one vet and some vets were probably not subject to it al all. 

But, it happened to so many.

The only incident I will speak to here is the fact that the various Veterans organizations wanted little, and often nothing, to do with us. I, like many of my brothers and sisters, was turned away from their doors.

Hence, the birth of VVA. Our founding motto is emblazoned upon this simple stone, seemingly alone if a beautiful green field or meadow. I have no pictures in the file that give me any hint as to where it is except the file name, Vermont.

"Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another"

Help me find it!

 

So, maybe not the shortest post I have ever made after all.

Next time, on the 6th, we will return to Virginia. Meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Vermont, 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.