September 11, 2022

Twenty one years ago, we in my area anyway, awoke to one of those spectacular September days. As I have mentioned before, around my house we call it "San Diego weather," just beautiful: but, never again.

Now on days like that I never fail to remember that day, no matter the date.

Living not too far from Washington DC, the coverage, as I guess it was everywhere, was never ending. My wife drove by the Pentagon every day on her way to work for the Navy. Her office was just minutes away from the Pentagon. Her office had moved recently so she was not close on this fateful day, but some of her colleagues were in the Pentagon as it was attacked. They survived, but it brought it all closer to home for us.

As I have traveled the country photographing Vietnam memorials, I also, always photograph 9/11 memorials as I come across them. While I have seen quite a few research tells me that every state has at least one, now.

I was driving through Pennsylvania and stopped to check out a Vietnam memorial that I had read about. There was no memorial there but I noticed some kind of a memorial near the parking lot and wandered over to find this remarkable tribute to 9-11. 

A remembrance for the many First Responders that were lost.

A piece of the towers.

Located in Red Run Park the memorial was completed in stages and is now complete.  

In my reading, I have not found that anyone from the township was lost on 9-11, but considering that Pennsylvania was one of the three most heavily impacted states, it is not surprising to find this here in a town (ship) of just over 7, 000 people.

Next time, on the 16th, we will revisit South Carolina where I hope to be able to pull some faces from the state memorial in Columbia, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am when we will return to Vietnam memorial posts. 

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

September 11, 2017

Many of you know that om particular days I write about things other than Vietnam memorials. Again, this year I want to feature another 9-11 memorial. As I travel the country to visit memorials to our brothers and sisters from 'Nam, I frequently see 9-11 memorials and always photograph them, too.

Today, I will show you the memorial I saw in Omaha, Nebraska

It is called "On the Wings of Angels" and was built by Woodsmen of the World, an insurance group, the people of Omaha and the 300 who had casts made of their hands for the "globe"

While I can find very little information about the site, it seems clear to me that the "silver" portion of the site are the Wings and the hands represent those that were lost.

Omaha has had a memorial service in a local park for those lost. It was started by the sister of a man killed in the towers. She places flags for each of those lost. This is a marvelous remembrance, I think, but it is not permanent as this one is.

In my research for this site a ran across some dissension. Some think we need not be reminded of these events. I think this is somewhat short sighted as in the not too distant future, those who actually remember will be gone, so these memorials, like all memorials, will remind our children and grandchildren of our past, our history.

300 citizens volunteered to have their hands cast to create this.

Dedication plaque

So, today, we honor those lost on that fateful day in NYC, Shanksville and D.C. I wonder will the world ever be the same.

Next time, in the 16th, we will return to Massachusetts, so join me there at 9:00am.

To see other memorials, from any state, click on the state name on the left side of this page,

North Carolina XII

This magnificent memorial is in Gaston County, North Carolina. And, there, in one sentence, is every single thing I can find out about it!

We kind of stumbled upon it while cruising through the state, it was not on my list of memorials to see. It just appeared.

It sits in a cemetery in which some Nam vets are buried.

There, in addition to all the names from many wars, is, also, a 9-11 memorial, but not one word, that I can find, about the place anywhere on the net.

So, I am once again challenging you to tell me! North Carolinian's have responded to this request in the past, so I am hoping some of you know about this place and will let me know.

Next time, on the 26th, we venture back to the great northwest, to Oregon, so, meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see other memorials from North Carolina, or any other state, click the state name on the left side of this page.

September 11, 14 years later

Here in the area of the Pentagon the sky was a beautiful blue, a few puffy white clouds drifting by. The temp was  near perfect, mid seventies, what my wife has always called San Diego weather.

Never again, now it will always be 9-11 weather for us.

I don't always get to it, but I try to pay some kind of tribute on this site to those who were lost and those who were affected, the vast majority of us, on this day.

My travels to seek out and photograph Vietnam memorials has often brought me in contact with 9-11 memorials, too. I photograph all of them, too.

Today, I want to honor one from West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Located on the Town Common, the memorial features an eternal flame and several plaques, Each of them will follow here.

This memorial recalls and honors all that were lost, but one in particular who was born and raised in West Springfield.

You can read more about her, here;

http://www.legacy.com/sept11/story.aspx?personid=98339


And, a final thought.

 So, 9-11 is here, once again to remind us of many things. Maybe the most important thing could be to tell someone you love that you love them, hug your kid just a little longer, be a little kinder to everyone. take full advantage of the opportunities you have.

This posted today at 8:46, the time the first plane hit The World Trade Center.

Check back tomorrow for the regularly scheduled Vietnam memorial which, entirely coincidentally, is from Massachusetts, too.

September 11, 2013

I was riding along in the car the other day with my sister. We commented on what a beautiful September day it was. Temp in the 70's, crystal clear, blue sky, just fantastic. Then we both remembered! This is exactly the same as September 11, 2001. Those of us of a certain age will  always remember where we were on the day President Kennedy was assassinated, or the day man landed on the moon, these days are forever seared into our consciousness. And, September 11 will always be there, too. I wonder if September will ever be "normal" again?

As I have traveled the country to visit Vietnam memorials, I have collected 9-11 memorials, too. In several of the last few years I have posted them here and I plan to make this an annual remembrance. To see other posts, just type September 11 into the search box at the top left.

This year's is from Gilbert, Arizona, just a little south of Phoenix.

 

An eight foot section of the Trade Center structure is the centerpiece of this memorial.

Names are listed upon the surrounding "Walls", listed by flight number, the Pentagon, or the World Trade Center

On this particular day, several small flags had been left by visitors.

Regular posts will resume on the 12th, as promised. Check in at 9:00am to visit Longmont, Colorado.

Arizona IV

 On one of many trips to Arizona, I was able to visit this memorial in Gilbert. It honors many from various wars but Vietnam is well represented. In addition to this memorial there is also a 9-11 memorial consisting of walls with names and an 8ft. piece of the World Trade Center.

 

Names are listed in two places here. There is a group on the central monument and also a group on the nearby, freestanding "Wall" No one at the museum could explain this to me and I have recently been in touch with the VFW that placed it. I am awaiting additional information from them and I will update here if I learn anything new.

 Individual tributes are placed at eh base and around the plaza area.

This memorial is located on the corner of S. Gilbert Rd and W. Elliot Rd on the grounds of the Gilbert Historical Museum.

Next time, on the 7th, join me in Bakersfield, California to honor a really nice memorial. As always, at 9:00am!


To see all posts from Arizona, or any other state, click on the states name on the left side of this page.

Pennsylvania IV

I really liked this memorial, so I decided to include it, even though it does not precisely meet the criteria of Vietnam Memorials.

The Prospect Hill Cemetery, in York, Pa. built this site to honor anyone who had been awarded the medals of Valor. It sits high on a hill overlooking the cemetery. The most intriguing component, I suppose, is that the lintel across the top is an actual piece of the World Trade Center. So, you might say that the site also pays homage to the 9-11 victims and heroes, as well.

You can find more information at;

http://www.prospecthill.org/CourtOfValor.htm