Maryland XXVIII

Long ago, I lived in the Hagerstown area, even taught there for a time. So, it was with great delight that I found that a Vietnam memorial has been dedicated in the city.

It happened in March of 2019 and had been in the works for several years.

Located in Hagerstown's magnificent city park it can be easily accessed from S. Walnut Avenue.

The "Welcome Home" greeting as you enter is the first I have seen and it is touching and fitting.

Complete with benches for quite reflection the memorial also recalls a bit of history and hope.

 

 

Tribute is paid to vets and those who waited at home in support of them in a difficult time in our history.

Beneath the watchful eye of the POW/MIA tribute, the 17 from Washington county are ever remembered and honored here.

 

The above pic is cropped out of a larger one and is difficult to read. These men are due their respect, so I will list them here:

Edward Ralph Glenn jr.

Douglas Lee Tracy

Kenneth Lamar Deavers jr.

Ralph Preston Funt jr.

Ronald M. Adams

Harry Lee Watkins jr.

Harry Leon Ecton

Jack Allen Beard

John Franklin Hutzell

George Edgar Massie 

Nolan Daryl Byrd

Orville Lee Knight

Otto Philip Barnhart

William Lewis McGowan 

James Edwin Dodd

Hugh Julius Bonneberg

Ronald Lee Sanbower

Next time on the first of December, we will venture back to Massachusetts, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Maryland XXVII

Clear Spring, Maryland is in Washington County the home of the very first Washington Monument which may be seen along the Appalachian Trail at Boonsboro.

Clear Spring has also distinguished itself as the home of a very nice veterans memorial. The memorial is to many but has not neglected our friends and neighbors lost in 'Nam. 

left panel

The memorial is in three pieces, a center stone with dedication, and a left and right wing with laser graphics depicting various scenes from our different wars.

Center dedication panel

As you can see here, the glare was particularly difficult on this day. No amount of lens filters etc seemed to help. The text reads as follows:

Clear Spring Veterans Memorial

(Great seal of the U.S.A.)

This memorial is dedicated to all

who served honorably in

the Armed Forces of the 

United States of America

The citizens of Clear Spring, Maryland

area thank you and your families 

for your service and sacrifice.

Dedicated October 2, 2010

Right panel

It is not too very often that I find family groups on memorials, but you can see here that this family has contributed more that many.

 

 

These two small stone have been left at the site.

This memorial is made even more remarkable by the fact that Clear spring had a population of 359 as of 2017. I know I am beating a dead horse when I say that I am so often amazed at what small towns do for their own. Some states have no official Vietnam memorial to this day!

Next time, on the 21st we will take another trip to New York, so join me there at 9:00am.

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