Louisiana XI

So, once again, faces. these are a little different as they are all likenesses of actual people.

The first is of the gentleman from Iberville whose story was told previously on this site. You can read that story here, and I recommend that you do take the time, it is really quite a story.

The second face is that is taken from a photograph at the Gonzales memorial, another very extensive and interesting site. See more here.

The final is from a small memorial at the University of Louisiana to Capt. Stephen Bennett, a Medal of Honor recipient who sacrificed his life for his friend. See more of his story here.

It is unusual, at least in my experience, to find these memorials where each of those honored are also actually identifies, at least in picture. The first two of today's faces names are unknown to me, but well known to others and I am thrilled to share their stories with you.

Next time, on the 13th, we will venture back to Maryland, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Louisiana, 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.

Louisana XII

I know that I promised to return to Maine in the last post, but I decided while looking over some old photos to do something a little different first.

Whenever I find a memorial with our brothers and sisters represented, I take a "portrait" of the faces. In looking through some of these today. I thought I would begin to feature them here, too.

So, today, these are from the Vietnam memorial in New Orleans. as I have said previously it is one of two in the city and the only one with soldiers represented. This memorial stands at the Super-dome on the Poydras Street side. It is elevated so you must either look up or climb up to the above street level to see it.

Over the years I have had the honor to meet a few of the sculptors of some of these memorials. They tell me that in most cases the people represented are not actual individuals, but imaginary or, sometimes, composites of many, many people. I have not been able to determine which is the case for these three warriors (top) who are trying to rescue their fallen brother (the last pic.) In fact, the very few exceptions of which I am aware is The Three Servicemen statue in DC, adjacent to The Wall. Two of the three there are said to be of specific individuals and the third is a composite of a couple of guys. One other exception, as a coincidence, in in Iberville, Louisiana.

So, next time, on the 2nd, we will actually return to Maine, so, join me there, as always at 9:00am. Occasionally, I will post additional "The Faces of Remembrance" photos, here.

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

Louisiana IV

This visit to Iberville came about in a somewhat convoluted manner. On visits to western Colorado and Alabama, I had seen the sculpture of Richard Arnold. I really liked his work so I looked up his studio in Telluride and gave him a call. He could not have been nicer or more willing to share his knowledge and ideas with me. We talked awhile about his work in the two states and he happened to ask if I was aware of a more recent one in Louisiana? I told him that I had already been to Louisiana but that I would really like to see this memorial some time. It was not until very recently that I actually made it back to LA.

He went on to explain that he was asked to create, among others, a statue of an African American man for the memorial in Iberville. He went to visit what was already there and saw a man reading some of the text found at the site. He engaged him in conversation and, eventually, got his permission to photograph him and create the statue based upon his likeness. The stranger became more at ease when he learned that Mr. Arnold, like himself, had served in 'Nam.

Some time later, at the dedication of the 5 new statues (Nov. '10), Mr. Arnold saw the same man. He was standing near the statue that was clearly him and he was weeping! Mr. Arnold asked what was the matter? The man said, "I didn't know it was going to be me!" Mr. Arnold told him that after meeting him and hearing his story, he felt, "It had to be you."

The man composed himself as they talked and Mr. Arnold realized that there was a line of many people waiting to speak to him. He looked at his companion and asked what this was about? The man said "You really don't get it, do you?" and then, "There has never been a statue of a black man in this part of Louisiana before and all of these folks want to thank you and shake your hand."

This beautiful and historic site is located at the intersection of Railroad Ave. and Court Street in Iberville. It has a number of other of Mr. Arnold's works including a mother and child, an older man, a WWII vet I think, and a current serviceman. This site was made even more poignant to me as we walked around and discovered that the nearest statue to this site was of a Confederate soldier in front of the Court House adjacent to this site. It just seemed fitting that a black man had joined those being honored for their service.

You can see more of Richard Arnold's work here;

http://www.arnoldtelluridestudio.com/artist.html

And, in my posts about Alabama and Colorado's Western Slope Memorial on this site. Just click either state on the left side of this page and scroll around until you find them.

Next stop? A memorial just outside the New Orleans airport. Join me there on the 1st at 9:00 AM