Florida IX

This is the second post from Tampa and the site is not the largest I have ever visited, but it does have an awful lot of things to see.

Detail from reverse of the Wall

 The Huey has a sign on its side remembering one of its own.

The Cobra has a number of plaques just beneath it to honor some of its partners in 'Nam.

The women lost in 'Nam are not forgotten, either. I wonder if you know that one of the eight women killed was an Irish citizen who came here to to join our efforts in-country? She is one of many Irish who did this and their story is told elsewhere on this site.

Numerous pavers have been placed to honor specific individuals.

Next time, we will visit, Idaho, again. So, join me on the 8th of June, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Florida VIII

Tampa was the debarkation point for Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders and, today, it is the home of a beautiful Vietnam Memorial, as well.

Located in Hillsborough County, as you enter the park you are greeted by these flags in the circle that creates parking.

Directly across from the flags you find a Huey and a Cobra watching over the names of the 156 who are, forever, honored here.

The main memorial lists those lost. One site I read reported that they were all officers, but this is not so.

On the reverse of the memorial are scenes from the war, a Vietnam Service medal and a POW/MIA flag.

The site was dedicated on November 11th, 2011 and is located on the east side of Tampa on U.S. 301 and the Tampa bypass canal, just south of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

There are several more pictures that I will share in the next posting, so join me then, on June 3rd, at 8:00am.

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

Michigan III, Heck Park

The Monroe County Vietnam Memorial (not too far from Detroit) is named for Army Captain Norman W. Heck who was lost in action in 1964. This park is interesting because the people of Monroe County chose to build a memorial to all who served, and an adjacent memorial to all who perished or are MIA. In addition there is a separate memorial to the only remaining MIA from the county. Further, there is a memorial to the ever growing number of those who have perished as a result of their service and sacrifice long ago. These memorials are becoming more common as we age and the aftermath of agent orange (currently, Diabetes and 21 kinds of cancer) become recognized and take their toll as the "wounds that never heal."

The site consists, also, of two era choppers, (Huey and Cobra), the tribute to women mentioned earlier on this site, a memorial to Clergy, and the "Chained Eagle" representing the need for a full accounting of POW/MIAs.

A unique feature is that the Clergy memorial depicts an impromptu "alter" of stacked C-ration boxes.

In an effort to make the park more family friendly, a museum has been added and a playground and picnic area. The museum was closed on the day that I visited.

You can find additional details here;

http://www.vietnamveterans142.org/Heck%20Park.htm

The address is;

Captain Norman W. Heck Park
1095 North Dixie Highway (near Interstate 75)
Monroe, Michigan 48162

This is a lovely and fitting tribute to Captain Heck as well as all others who served and I recommend that you visit if in the area.

As I posted the pictures from this site, I realized that I have many more than is allowed per post, so I will post the others on the next page.