Kansas XIV

Once more I am featuring some pics from Molly Macdonald whose name you will recognize if you visit here on a regular basis.

These are from her visit to Pratt, Kansas some others of which you can see here.

This park is a multi-war memorial site as are so many throughout the country. I have written before about these being more efficient for places with limited resources.

A slightly different view of the entrance to the park.

Called the B-29 All Veterans Memorial, it opened in 2003, and honors many from various involvements and after posting the previous post, I discovered that I had one more individual to include.

A couple more shots of some of the many aircraft on display here.

Molly told me just the other day that she came across a brand new memorial in Florida, where she is currently. I am planning a trip to meet up with her in the near future. I'll keep you posted about that!

So, next time, on the 1st of Feb., we will return to Maryland, so join me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Kansas, or any other state, please click a 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, like Molly, 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.

Colorado XXXIX

I was leaving Colorado the next morning and really wanted to find this memorial before I headed home.

The odds were seemingly stacked against me. I had popped my Plantar Fascia that day which had really slowed me down. I arrived on the south side of Denver just as twilight was beginning. As is so often the case, my directions to the exact spot were somewhat weak, but then I saw it. In a parking lot that seemed to belong to a Costco, it stood.

Located in what is known as "Little Saigon" it is a tribute to all who tried to save South Vietnam. It was kind of interesting because every sign, bright neon, was in Vietnamese, row after row of stores and businesses.

By the time I parked and gather my camera it was nearly too dark to proceed, but not knowing when, or if, I would ever get back to Denver, I took my chances.

These are just a couple of shots from the site, I expect to post more at a future time.

An American and a Vietnamese soldier stand together in defense of the country.

No names are listed here except the small silver colored plaques on the right that thank various donors and supporters.

Other than this plaque, no additional information is provided, but this link will take you to a site that offers some insights.

https://www.historycolorado.org/story/2023/10/06/cause-freedom-remembering-vietnam-war 

I include this detail because it matched the head of a cane I purchased while in 'Nam and was wondering if any of you know any information about it. It seems to me that if it is so common that there might be cultural significance or a story connected. Anyone?

Next time, on the 27th, we will revisit Kansas, so meet me there as usual, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Colorado, 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.

California XLIV

I have been reading about the Living Memorial Sculpture Garden in Weed, California for quite a few years and dreaming of visiting to see all that is there there.

The problem is that Weed is not really close to anywhere. I have made numerous inquiries about how to get there but they all present a number of problems: its distance, the cost to fly, and at one point wild fires in the area. Anyway, I haven't gotten there.

So, imagine my delight when I heard that Molly Macdonald, a fairly frequent contributor here, was going to be in the area.

I asked her if she visited to forward some pics to me.

She very kindly did. So, today I want to share just a couple of them with you and over time several more.

The Garden honors many from Korea and Vietnam and more generally war itself. and unsurprisingly, I will focus on Vietnam.

The Garden rests about 13 miles from Weed, very neat Mt. Shasta

I have read that this wall of names was added sometime after the Garden opened in 1988.

LTC. Cozzalio is one of the founders of the Garden.

As I correspond with Molly, I hope to include many more photos from this astounding site and I hope to actually visit myself at some point, but as I said above, it is many miles from a major airport: 349 from Portland, 611 from L.A., 284 from San Francisco...

Next time, on the 22nd, we will revisit Colorado, so meet me there as always at 9:00am.

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

Thank you, Molly, once again!

Molly is one of a number of you who have responded to my request for photos of memorials that you have seen, but I have not. 

So in that spirit I will ask again. Please send any memorials that you may have seen in your area or in your travels and I will gladly feature it here (and give you full credit!) There is a an email address on the left side of this page.

Arizona XXXV

I read somewhere about a memorial in Globe, Arizona. so, on my most recent trip, I drove the 100 plus miles from Tucson into beautiful, mountainous mining country in Gila County.

What ever I read had said it was a Vietnam memorial but when I found it on E. Ash Street, it turned out to be a more general memorial to all who have served.

It is beautiful never the less and after driving the more than 200 miles round trip, I figured I would include it here, anyway.

It was also, very hard to actually photograph. In addition to the extremely bright sun reflecting off the black surfaces, it was positioned so that I could not access all of the tributes.

This faces honors the U.S, Army: the first of America's fighting forces.

Here, the Marines are honored and the other non photo-graphable sides honor the other services.

I had hoped that this smaller feature was going to name those lost. globe only has a bit over 7,000 people so it seemed possible.

However, it lists a number of sponsors and actually speaks to the dedication and support of the local community.

Again, I am touched by the efforts of small towns.

Next time, on the 17th, we will revisit California, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00 am.

To see add additional memorials from Arizona, or any other state, please click a 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.

Wisconsin XVII

Anyone who follows along here knows that I am all about memorials and monuments. these pay homage to the men and women who fought so bravely in Vietnam, but it is extra special to me when I can actually put a face to a name

Thus was born my Faces of Remembrance series. I can think of no better way to start this new year than to post some of the faces sent to me by Joan in Wisconsin.

Joan is one of a number of you who have responded to my request for photos of memorials that you have seen, but I have not. 

So in that spirit I will ask again. Please send any memorials that you may have seen in your area or in your travels and I will gladly feature it here (and give you full credit!) There is a an email address on the left side of this page.

The above are just a few of the ones that Joan forwarded to me and I will feature others in future posts.

Next time, on the 12th we will revisit Arizona, so join me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

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

Seasons Greetings 2023 #3

So, this is the third (and final for this year) diversionary post. Just a few more pics of things other than the memorials to our brothers and sisters lost in 'Nam. As stated before I think it is healthy to take a break and just perhaps concentrate on things of beauty, if only for a short time.

We think of the desert as a mostly barren and desolate place. Inhabited mostly by creepy crawlies, sand and cacti. While this is true, it is also true that each of the above photos was taken in the desert of the American southwest, mostly Arizona. the last picture is of a Barrel Cacti in bloom. Most Cacti bloom at some time of the year and they are all quite beautiful.

Next time, on the 7th, we will return to honoring our lost and missing comrades. Join me in Wisconsin, as always at 9:00 am.

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

And, Happy New Year to you all!!

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.