Florida XI

I flew in and out of Jacksonville on my first trip to Florida and on the day I was to fly home I just drove around a bit. I eventually stopped at a neighborhood restaurant and had something to eat and a beer, or maybe two.

I got talking to some guys in the place and told them some of my story and they wanted to know if I had seen the memorial in the parking lot at the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium. I had not and as it turned out it was only a short drive away.

This memorial, like so many others honors those from several wars, WWI on through the Global War On terror and an eternal flame honors their final sacrifice.

Originally built in 1995 and expanded in 2005 in honors more than 1600 from the Jacksonville area.

I am always struck by the reflections so many of these sites provide. I have written before about how they are designed to be reflective, for us to see ourselves in the lost, but the reflections still grab me, every time.

Something I have never before encountered surprised me as I read the names on the wall. The names are listed in groups of which High Schools they attended. I really liked this approach and have not seen it again in over 500 visits to other memorials.

Next time, on the21st, we will return to Maryland, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am

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

North Carolina IV

I had read about the memorial in Jackson, N.C. and even spoken with one of the guys associated with building it, but I had no idea how awestruck I would be by actually seeing it. It has become one of my very favorites now that I have been there a couple of times.

It sits just off Lejuene blvd. outside the famous Marine camp. From the road, as you pull in to the area, it appears to be a rather nondescript wall, with an array of flags and a small marker, but if you continue down the path, over the bridge, you will find one of the largest and most magnificent memorials I have ever seen.

The path leads you up to a fountain with a reflating pool that is surrounded by a number of large pillars. All of this is encircled by 600 feet of glass on which are etched the more than 58,000 names of the lost and missing from 'Nam.

Each name is listed in alphabetical order so that one might easily find a loved one. The 3700 square feet of glass reflect the differing light of the day, the flags placed throughout, the water features, and allow one to look through from one set of names, across the pillars and the fountains, to others names. It is a remarkable effect. Stunning and  beautiful, nestled in among tall pines it is a peaceful, quite, and respectful place.

Located along with this Vietnam memorial are a tribute to the Marines killed in Beirut and a piece of the Twin Towers honoring those lost on September 11th. and very nearby is a military cemetery. This site deserves a bit of your time should be in the Jacksonville area.

Next time, on the 9th of February, we will visit  Ohio, as always at 9:00am. See you then.

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

Illinois VII

Just a few feet from the Morgan County Vietnam Memorial in Nichols Park is a POW/MIA memorial. It is elegant in its simplicity. No names are recorded here and it is not specific to any war. What makes it particularly interesting to me is that it is the result of an Eagle Scouts desire to honor those still unaccounted for. There are approximately 88,000 MIAs from WWII to the present and when I was in Alabama a couple of years ago, I read that there are 188,00 MIAs from all of our history. I do not know if that is accurate, but I don't think the total number is what is important. What is important is that we remember these and consider the fact that there will always be those who are lost and never accounted for in any war. And we should remember it the most as we deciding to send our men and women into harms way, again.

I am trying to track down the young man who is behind this memorial. If I reach him, I will update with any new and interesting information.

Update. I spoke to the young mans father today and he explained that his son was part of the actual project construction. He was only 14 at the time but was allowed to participate in a number of the activities necessary to ready and complete the memorial. His father promised to have him get in touch. If this happens prior to this posting I will include and new, pertinent, or interesting material here.

Update II. I had a very nice conversation with the young man who was instrumental in the placing of this memorial. Now, 24, he was a 14 year old seeking his Eagle Scout status. He approached the Parks and Lakes committee of Jacksonville and they told him they wanted a POW/MIA memorial for the park. An Eagle Scout project requires that the candidate demonstrate Leadership skills and be responsible for the planning and implementation of the project. He told me that he still has a book filled with documentation on items like the planning, hours worked by those building the project and other numerous details. He told me that the fund raising for the project was more than successful and they were able to create a fund for perpetual care of the site, in addition to the addition of the flags and lights at a time after the actual dedication of the memorial. Funding came from a variety of veteran's groups, individuals and others. He served on the committee that saw the project through from inception to completion and that he is very pleased with the results. He is now living in Chicago after completing college there.On behalf of Vietnam vets and all vets everywhere, I thank him for his involvement, determination and compassion.

Illinois VI

I was cruising around Jacksonville, IL.(about 30 miles west of Springfield)  looking for the Vietnam memorial I had heard about. Completely lost, I finally pulled into a local gas station to see if anyone could help. As I headed for the door I noticed a guy on a motorcycle gassing up. As always I checked out the bike and noticed that leaning against it was a complete set of golf clubs! He looked up as I walked over and I said, "I just want to see how you're going to do this! He laughed and explained that his golf bag has shoulder straps and he just wears it like a back pack!

It turns out he knew just where the memorial was and kindly directed me there. It is located in Nichols Park and while I was setting up and taking a few pics I realized that I had actually been here before. These were some of the pictures that were lost when my computer decided to fail. I had forgotten completely about this site.

A few minutes later, the guy on the bike shows up, golf clubs and all. He said he just wanted to know if we had found the site. Lucky for me he did! He told me that there are 14 Oak trees planted around the memorial, one for each of the lost. It was a beautiful site to see these 14 trees, planted as saplings 40 years ago that are nor magnificent tributes to these fallen soldiers.We were happy to note that all 14 trees are still there and seemingly in good shape. You can see a few of then in the pictures.

Not far away, in the same park, there is POW/MIA memorial that has an interesting story behind it. Join me next time, on the 6th of February, and I will fill you in! See you, as always, at 9:00am