Michigan XIV

I keep getting drawn back to the memorial in Mt. Pleasant. I have visited here before and you can check out those posts here, and here.

One of the two main attractions here is the statue of one solder comforting another: called War Cry it is seen below.

As with most memorials there are other features as well and, today, here are a few of them.

First, I will note that like so many other memorials to Vietnam, this one includes remembrances of veterans from other times remembering our goal:  "never again will one generation of veterans abandon another." This one seems to have a GWOT helmet upon what is known as a Field Cross.

Reminders throughout the site recall our efforts and sacrifices and ask others to never forget.

So, if ever in Mt. Pleasant take some time to check out this site. If you check the posts from here, you can see that there is much to visit. It is located in Island Park.

Next time, on the 26th, we will return to Mississippi to honor a few more faces, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00 am.

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 as I have found memorials in these places, too.

As is now my custom,  I will ask anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not shown here, to send then to me and I will include them (giving you full credit.) Any number of you have added knowledge and honor to this site by doing just that. It is always appreciated and makes this effort better, more completed. Thanks to those who have contributed and to anyone who will do so now or in the future.

Texas XIX

Mineral Wells, Texas is the home of a vast memorial site, I posted about it once before and you can see that post here.

Today, I thought I would share a couple more features of the site.

This half scale replica of The Wall is just one of the dominate features of this site.

 

 

The iconic Huey and a the 'Nam version of the Field Cross. These were first displayed in the Civil war to make where a soldier fell.

Interestingly, it has been renamed here as a Soldiers Cross, not sure why.

A better view of perhaps the most recognizable image of the Vietnam war.

The site, known as the National Vietnam War Museum is located at 12685 Mineral Wells Highway in Weatherford, Texas.

Next time, on the 5th of March, we will return to Virginia, so meet me there,  as always, at 9:00am.

Checking on line, I was pleased to see that the museum appears to be built and open and additional features added. When I visited it consisted of a trailer that was locked. So nice going to the guys behind this effort!

To see additional Vietnam memorials from Texas, 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!

New York XXVII

Once again I find myself in a quandary. I have asked my readers to send me pics of sites not seen on A Means to Heal, and some of you have done so (thank you again). I am still interested in anything you might have!

My friend Mike Minnick who has so unselfishly shared his pics in the past sent me the ones that follow. They are from Berne, New York, but that is all I know. I have searched and searched the internet, but as is so often happens, I cannot find a single word about them.

As always, I appeal to you: please contact me if you know any information, there is an email on the left side of this page.

Obviously, they are from what is called a multi-war memorial, but it, also, seems that there is a statue, perhaps of a fireman.

This particular type of memorial, in case you have not been here before, is called a Field Cross. Its origins date back to the Civil War and was a way for soldiers to mark where a comrade was lost. It is interesting sometimes to visit memorial sites and note the subtle changes in these markers through the years. It becomes quite natural to be able to tell what war a soldier was lost in by the type of boots, rifle or helmet that is depicted.

As stated this is a multi-war memorial and the names inscribed upon the bricks honor so many, from so many wars and service.

This small sample represents and honors those listed, and those not, for their willingness to serve their fellow man.

Next time, on the 19th, we will revisit North Carolina, so meet me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Connecticut XVI

As I wonder around states seeking new memorials I also try to find a intersection, or a place that states the name of the town, or something to help me remember exactly where I was when I found the site.

This usually works flawlessly, but once in a while I forget or there is nothing obvious to photograph. Such is the case as I happened into what I now know is Sprague, Connecticut.

Situated on a corner is this really interesting site. I took a bunch of pics and even some of some route signs etc., only to find that when I wanted to post, the signs meant nothing. I could not remember where it was. I knew it was in Connecticut, but I could not, for the life of me, remember the specific place. So, I gave up and just decided I would never get to use these photos.

Being one who has difficulty taking no for an answer, I kept returning to the batch of pics, just to try again and actually found one that revealed where it was.

So, welcome to Sprague.

The site as you can see has a number of remembrances. the plaque on the right side of the stone "wall" towards the rear lists many who fought in the Civil War. Interestingly, as I have mentioned before, the Field Cross seen here dates back to the civil War.

The plaque on the left side remembers many from the 20th Century wars. Oddly, this plaque lists 44 who served in Vietnam.

The plaque on a separate pedestal, here, lists 110 who served in 'Nam. why the discrepancy, I cannot say, but I guess it has to do with what was know at the time of the placement of the various plaques.

I can find no dates on the plaques, so one hopes the differences are just the result of on-going efforts to be accurate and to remember and honor all who served. Next time, on the 28th, we will return to Delaware, so join me there as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Georgia XIV

 Griffin in Spalding County, Georgia has a lovely memorial

park that I have posted about previously and today I want to tell you about the second Vietnam memorial within its grounds.

The first one, seen elsewhere on this site, honors those lost or missing from Vietnam and Korea. this one while listing no names is exclusive to Vietnam.

Fronted, a few yards away by an eternal flame which I was glad to see in full flame. You might be surprised by how many sites once boasted a flame that has now been extinguished for quite some time.

The front of the memorial, here a little difficult to read due to shadows says:

"To the men and women of Spalding County who served their county so faithfully in the Vietnam War and to the loved ones who suffered loneliness and loss.

Erected in grateful tribute by the citizens of Spalding County 1884."

I always appreciate the acknowledgement of those who were left at home to wonder and worry. My younger brother once told me of the fear my parents tried to hide the whole time I was away.

The ramp has a map of  'Nam, rifle, helmet and boots and reminds me a bit of the Field Cross.

The reverse side is shown above.

Next time, on the 23rd, we will have another look at Idaho, so as always, meet me there at 9:00am.

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

Nebraska VII

While driving through Nebraska, I noticed a sign in the town of North Bend. It directed me to Veteran's Park.

Like so many small towns, North Bend created a memorial to all from the area who have served or were lost in any of our wars.

This beautiful little park sits on the corner of Main Street and 9th on land donated by an Omaha couple.

North Bend lies 50 miles north of Lincoln and 50 miles west of Omaha. It is  a small, mostly agricultural, town of about 1200 citizens.

While many are remembered here, the latest addition to the park is this soldier  kneeling, remembering, honoring, grieving at a Field Cross; marking the spot where a comrade died.The statue is based upon a previous placement, elsewhere, of a WWII soldier seeking his lost friends, but he represents us all. Here, he reaches for the dog tags of his lost friend.

Found here, too, is a tribute to all those who were lost.

There are no long lists of names here. Many are remembered with bricks purchased by loved ones. I could not determine a difference between bricks honoring service or the ultimate sacrifice.

Finally, POW/MIAs are remembered. I have written before about how this design was created by the wife of a Vietnam POW. It come to be universal and that is as it should be, but to me, it will always be Vietnam.

So, while not specifically a tribute to Vietnam, we are indeed remembered and this, too, is as it should be.

Next time, on March 2nd, we will revisit Nevada, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see other memorials in Nebraska, or any other state, click the state name on the left side of this page.

Florida VII

If you have been following this journey of mine for any time at all, I imagine you might understand that every so often, just by chance, something occurs that is so emotional and moving that it screams to be shared. Just such an incident happen on my recent visit to Florida.

I visited a memorial in Ft. Myers. It had been raining all morning and I really didn't expect to be able to take any good pictures, but as we arrived the rain stopped. Kismet, I thought and hurried to visit the site before the rain kicked in once again, which it did shortly thereafter.

The memorial consists of three, side by side, "walls" listing those from the five counties surrounding the site. Very nice, but nothing too out of the ordinary. I read the names and took a a number of shots of the site, but then as I started to leave, I noticed something.

In front of the three walls is a Field Cross and, as you know, these are often seen. This one, however, was different. Attached to it was a typed note, you can see that in the photos, but what was different was how it was attached. It took a minute for the realization to hit me and it struck like a thunderbolt. Here was some vet honoring those who were lost on this particular day so long ago. All these years later, he went out of his way to come here, to this site in Ft. Myers, and once more honor his buddies. He attached the paper to the rifle in the Field Cross with the mechanical hand from his artificial limb!

I was dumbfounded. This was something I have never seen. It is not unusual to visit a site and find something, a memento, a picture, a flower, or something, left by a loved one, but this was unique.

A little later, I realized that the paper had been dry. It had been raining all morning and ceased just as we arrived, so I must have missed this guy by just minutes. At first I was disappointed, I would have loved to welcome him home and hear his story, but now after a few days I think that this was a very private moment for him and I am glad I did not intrude.

This memorial is located on the corner of Colonial blvd. and McGregor Blvd. in ft. Myers.

Next time, on the 24th, return with me to Alabama.

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

Oklahoma VI

On the lawn of the Kay County, Oklahoma Court House is this multiwar memorial. The Field Cross in the center is designated Vietnam. The Field Cross, as I may have stated preciously, has a long and storied history. The first known are from the Civil War era and were used to designate the spot where a soldier fell. Still honoring the fallen today, it has changed only slightly. To me, the most obvious change is the helmet. It changes with the conflict. I remember being surprised the first time I saw one with the more modern head gear resting on the rifle. I had associated it for so long with 'Nam that I was caught unaware and slightly abashed to have not foreseen the changes. I guess the only thing that does not change is that we send our best to serve; and die.

The memorial here covers a number of wars and the last pic lists those from Vietnam.

This is the final post from Oklahoma, at least for now. Check back again on April 2nd as we visit the great state of  West Virginia and its memorial to our fallen brothers and sisters.

Colorado VIII

While driving through Gunnison, we came across a Veteran's park and found this nice memorial. The boots, rifle and bayonet, helmet, and on some occasions, dog tags, known as a field cross, is dedicated specifically to Vietnam lost. The field cross is said to have been used first during the American Civil War as a means to identify fallen soldiers. Today, it has become more of an icon of respect for the lost

I spoke with several people from the town and finally hooked up with one of the people responsible for the memorial's placement. He explained that two men from Gunnison were lost in 'Nam. The town, which consists of about 5400 people wanted to do something to memorialize their lost neighbors and honor all who had served. So, collections were taken up and people donated from $1.00 to $1,000 and the memorial was created. I noted the footprints in front of the field cross and my contact said he assumed they were from someone saluting the cross. I wondered if they were from the boots of those who created the sacred remembrance to a fallen brother.

This is an American Legion Park and there are other memorials here, also. I found the eagles elsewhere in this nice city park.

The park is easily located on Highway 50 which runs right through Gunnison.

Next time I visit a memorial near Florence dedicated to a pilot whose remains were identified and interred 45 years after he was lost over Hanoi. Join me on September 2nd.