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.

Wreaths Across America: Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia

Those of you who have been following along now for these many years know that at the holiday season, whichever one you celebrate, I do not write about specific states or memorials. In the past, I have posted about other completely unrelated things. One year, I wrote about trains and another about custom cars. Well, this year I thought I would do something a little different.

You may be familiar with Wreaths Across America, it is an effort begun some years ago to lay a wreath at the headstones of those in National Cemeteries. It has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and now volunteer participants lay wreaths at some 850 sites across the nation.

It is a huge undertaking, wreaths have to be made, shipped and distributed to name just a few of the logistical requirements.

This year, 2014, for the first time there were enough wreaths to honor every one of the markers at Arlington National Cemetery. Over 50,000 volunteers showed up to distribute more than 200,000 wreaths on Saturday the 13th of December. I read that they were thousands short but at the last moments someone stepped up and provided the needed wreaths. That person deserves our respect and gratitude.

I visited a few days after the fact and thought that this year I would honor all those at ANC, including, above, those from 911 at the Pentagon, and post this series of pictures for you.

I particularly liked these markers beneath this large Holly tree, it too, seams appropriately seasonal.

While walking among the thousands of markers and wreaths, I noticed what appeared to be a "challenge coin" resting on top of one. Upon further investigation, I discoved that it was,indeed, a coin, but that it commeorates the WAA effort.

I hope that pictures of a cemetery do not seem out of place during this season. I think it is a cause for great celebration that this happens every year and that this year, no one was left out.

Next time, on the 27th, I will feature a few pics from The Wall, decorated for the season. So, join me at 9:00am, as always,

This is a special time of the year and as diverse as we are in this country, I probably cannot name all the ways in which we celebrate, so rather than leave someone out, I will just say happiest of holidays to you and yours. Remember that the season can also be difficult for many, so reach out to someone you know is alone, or lonely.

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

September 11, 2011

September 11, 2001 will be burned into our collective memories with other momentous dates, such as November 22, and December 7th, for all time. I wanted to take a moment today and interrupt the Colorado series of Vietnam memorials to remember and honor our fallen brothers and sisters.

As you know, my journey is about Vietnam, but occasionally I run across a 911 memorial. I thought I would share a couple of them today in remembrance, mourning and respect.

The first picture is of one I have shared previously. It is called the Court of Honor and is located in Prospect Hill Cemetery in York, Pennsylvania. Its inscribed names honor many who have served and fallen, but the lintel across the top is an actual piece from the Twin Towers.

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

The second picture is from the park in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. I wrote about the 'Nam memorial there earlier, but now is the fitting time to share this one. While not huge, it is indeed poignant. It can be found in the 9000 block of Dayton Pike.

The last couple of pictures are from Montgomery County, Maryland. On a corner in the middle of Rockville, the county seat, sits a beautiful and dignified memorial to those county residents who perished in the attack on the Pentagon. I sometimes think that in the magnitude of the events in New York and the heroics in Shanksville, Pa., those who lost their lives in the Pentagon attack are overshadowed. It was with great feeling that I discovered this tribute to our neighbors. Eleven of those lost at the Pentagon lived in my community and each of them is remembered here by a bench with his or her name etched upon it. In addition, a favorite saying, or passage from a book or poem along with a facsimile of their signature makes each of these personalized and intimate. The park is designed so that on September 11, each bench is illuminated by the sun as it passes over the site. On the day I visited, bouquets of roses had been left on each bench by family members or loved ones. It was a deeply moving display of love for our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors who were lost, but will never be forgotten.

William Edward Caswell
Dr. Gerald Paul Fisher
Capt. Lawrence D. Getzfred
Michele M. Heidenberger
Angela Marie Houtz
Teddington Hamm Moy
Lt. Darin H. Pontell
Scott A. Powell
Todd Hayes Reuben
Patricia J. Statz
Ernest M. Willcher

This dignified and beautiful tribute sits at the corner of Rte 28 and Maryland Ave. across from the court house