Korean War Veterans Armistice Day

In the spirit of VVA's founding principle that "one generation of veterans will never abandon another" I am going to deviate from my usual posts about Vietnam.

Today, July 27th, is "Korean War Veterans Armistice Day." In memory and tribute to the nearly 25,000 Americans who gave all in that conflict. The day was designated in 1998, three years after the completion of the Korean War Memorial on the Mall in Washington DC. 

Blake Stilwell wrote a great piece about the war for Military.com.

Following is a brief excerpt (used with permission)

"Today, historians and even veterans of the conflict may call the war in Korea "The Forgotten War," but tucked on the National Mall, across from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, is a ghostly memorial designed to ensure that the conflict, those who served in it and the almost 25,000 American troops who died as a result are remembered. The memorial was dedicated in 1995 by then-President Bill Clinton and South Korea's then-President Kim Young .

You can read the complete article here.

We remember our brothers and sisters from 'Nam frequently here, at The Wall, and at the many, many memorials around the country and various places around the world. This is as it should be.

Take a moment today to give some thought and honor to those who participated in the, still not settled, "Forgotten war" they, too, deserve our respect and honor.

Next time, on the 1st of August, we will return to posts about Vietnam.  I found pictures of a simple memorial that I believe is in Antelope Park in Nebraska, but can find no verification. So, I will be asking for your help. Join me, as usual, at 9:00 am to check it out.

To see memorials from any state, please click on a state name on the left side of this page. Please note that Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico have been added to the list.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron, Tim from Virginia and Molly from Florida have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

Missouri XI

It happens that I sometimes discover that I think that I have made a post from a certain place only to find out that this is not the case. Sadly, it happens more often than I would like. Not sure what that is all about. 

It seems that Kansas City falls into this category. I am glad I discovered this oversight because the Kansas City memorial is beautiful. It honors 351 from the area lost or missing.

These pictures were taken some time ago. The memorial has had a number of problems with vandalism, upkeep, and repair, but as of July 2023 these seem to be getting taken care of by the city and supporters of the memorial.

A detailed explanation of all the symbolism built into the memorial may be found here, it is quite interesting.

There are a couple of more photos from this site that I will post in the not too distant future.

The memorial is located at 4299 Broadway near the intersection with 42nd.

Next time, on the 29th., we will return to Nebraska to honor a simple memorial from Antelope Park in Lincoln, so join me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

 

To see additional memorials from Missouri, or any other state, please click a state name on the left side of this page. Please note that Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico have been added to the list.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron, and Molly from Florida have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

Mississippi IX

Ocean Springs, as I am sure I have mentioned before, is very special to me as it was the site of my very first venture into this project. It happened simply by chance. I had retired and decided to tag along with my wife on a business trip she had to Pascagoula. We had talked many times about my desire to begin this project but that was as far as it ever got: talking.  

She left our hotel in Biloxi that first day to go to her meetings. Within ten minutes she had called me and said the Mississippi Vietnam memorial was nearby and that I should begin this project NOW. 

I did just that and the rest as we say is history. You can see those very first photographs here, here, and here, to name but a few.

Also previously stated is the fact that actual photographs of our lost brothers an sisters are fairly rare, so when I have the chance I will always post them here.

Today, a few more.

One of my great regrets is that when I started this endeavor I did not think that I would in fact be posting faces. The Faces of Remembrance sub-group to this site was way off in the future at this time. so, I did not record the names of those who are honored in Ocean Springs. their names are listed at the site, but alas, I did not think to record them. If you are ever in Ocean Springs which is about 10 miles east of Biloxi you will see the memorial on the right hand side of the road. 

Check it out: say their names.

For now that is it. I may be able to pull a few more faces off the memorial in the future. If I am successful, count on seeing them here.

Next time, on the 24th, we will revisit Missouri, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00 am.

To see additional memorials from Mississippi, or any other state, please click on a state name on the left side of this page. Please note that Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico have been added to the list.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron, and Molly from Florida have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

Minnesota IX

Duluth's memorial on Lake Superior is quite awe inspiring. I visited many years ago and want to return today for a few more photos and features. You can see my original post from this unique site here.

This is one of the views from the inside, looking out. the sunlight beaming in through the light boxes highlight the names listed here.

The names are divided into the counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin from which they came to serve. 

The posted information explains the sites development and goals.

 

Next time, on the 19th. we will return to Mississippi to honor a few more of those remembered on the very first memorial I ever photographed way back in 2009, so join me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

 

To see additional memorials from Minnesota or any other state, please click a state name on the left side of this page. Please note that Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico have been added to the list.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron, and Molly from Florida have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

Michigan XV

The very first pictures I ever took in Michigan were in Monroe's Heck Park. 

There is just so much there that I can keep coming back to it for something new to post. You can see some of those past posts here and here.

A few more of the features follow.

Pics like this always make me think vets were actually involved in the design of a memorial.

I  have posted this one before, but as we are just past celebrating our independence, I thought I would make one more reminder of what it takes to maintain it.

These numbers have not been updated, as far as I know, since I visited some years ago. It is safe to say that they have increased by at least 10,000 since the Vietnam war.

To see additional memorials from Michigan, or any other state, please click on a state name on the left side of this page. Please note that Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico have been added to the list.

Next time, on the 14th, we will venture back to Minnesota, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00 am.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a  number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron, and Molly from Florida have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

Independence Day 2024

Each year I try to write something about how our country achieved independence and came to be. I review past writings to see if I can create anything new, or at least not be too repetitive.

So, this year I will be nearly completely repetitive! I found this from 2017.

"The Independence Day celebration is always a bit of a mixed bag for me.

I remember as a kid how much it meant to me and my anticipation and worry about if my folks would take me somewhere to see fireworks? Usually, they did, but I always worried.

As an adult, it seems important to continue these traditions and to honor those that have allowed us to retain our independence. Vietnam and more recent wars have never really seemed to be about our independence and we all know the questions, right or wrong, about whether or not we should be engaged in wars of dubious intent and outcome.

As a Grandparent, I want my grand kids to know and understand what Independence Day is all about and to enjoy their thrill at all the festivities.

As a 'Nam vet, well that is a completely different matter all together.

I hate the noise, and God, I hate the smell, and what it has all come to represent for me. So, each year I wrestle with the question of what am I going to do?

I don't want to go.

I know many vets that feel the same way.

But, the grandchildren love it, just as I did all those many summers ago, How many years will I get to treasure their joy as they grow up and away? Also, I do not ever want to pass on my anxiety, so I work to keep it masked from them.

So, today, I will swallow what I feel and take my girls to the fireworks and concert in our area and watch them laugh and thrill to it all.

And, I will hope that they are never burdened with their own memories and doubts.

I hope you all have a great day."

Jefferson statue at Williamson, Va.

OK, on a lighter note, a quiz.

When was the Declaration of Independence signed?

July 4th, right?

Well, no.

It was signed on July 2nd and sent to the printer. He didn't get around to printing it until the 4th and, hence, used that date. So, the rest as they say.....

Detail from Jefferson's writing

2024 Update: 

My girls are older now. The eldest is finishing a degree in Cybersecurity and the younger one, currently, wants to be a Large Animal Veterinarian, so I guess it all worked out.

Now, I don't have to go to fireworks and all that so, I don't. That doesn't change even as my girls grow and prosper.

Next time on July 9th, we will retrace our steps to Michigan's Heck Park, so join me there at 9:00am.

To see Vietnam memorials from any state just click the state name on the left side of this page and please note that Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico have been added to the list.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a  number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron, and Molly from Florida have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

Maryland XLII

Patuxent Naval Air Station is near the southern tip of Maryland and just outside the base is the Air Museum. It, of course, is dedicated to all the Navy fliers throughout our history and there is no specific memorial to Vietnam there, but there are a bunch of planes that supported the effort in 'Nam.

The museum is open to the public and is located at 22156 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, MD

Following a just a few of the planes on display.

Sorry abt the name: Douglas NA-4

 

 

 Predictably there is more here that I may feature in later posts.

To see additional memorials from Maryland, or any other state, please click on a state name on the left side of this page. Please note that Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico have been added to the list. 

Next time, on July 4th, I will post something about our history, so, check in for a minute and see what's up.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a  number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron, and Molly from Florida have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.