Korean War Veterans Armistice Day

In the spirit of VVA's founding principle that "one generation of veterans will never abandon another" I am going to deviate from my usual posts about Vietnam.

Today, July 27th, is "Korean War Veterans Armistice Day." In memory and tribute to the nearly 25,000 Americans who gave all in that conflict. The day was designated in 1998, three years after the completion of the Korean War Memorial on the Mall in Washington DC. 

Blake Stilwell wrote a great piece about the war for Military.com.

Following is a brief excerpt (used with permission)

"Today, historians and even veterans of the conflict may call the war in Korea "The Forgotten War," but tucked on the National Mall, across from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, is a ghostly memorial designed to ensure that the conflict, those who served in it and the almost 25,000 American troops who died as a result are remembered. The memorial was dedicated in 1995 by then-President Bill Clinton and South Korea's then-President Kim Young .

You can read the complete article here.

We remember our brothers and sisters from 'Nam frequently here, at The Wall, and at the many, many memorials around the country and various places around the world. This is as it should be.

Take a moment today to give some thought and honor to those who participated in the, still not settled, "Forgotten war" they, too, deserve our respect and honor.

Next time, on the 1st of August, we will return to posts about Vietnam.  I found pictures of a simple memorial that I believe is in Antelope Park in Nebraska, but can find no verification. So, I will be asking for your help. Join me, as usual, at 9:00 am to check it out.

To see memorials from any 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.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron, Tim from Virginia and Molly from Florida have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here. Thanks, once again, to all who have contributed.

Memorial Day 2015

Most years, I write about the history and significance of Memorial Day. this year, I would like to do something just a little different.

On May 8th, 2015, the 70th anniversary of V.E. (Victory in Europe) Day was commemorated in Washington D.C. with a fly over of historic airplanes. More than 50 of these classic aircraft flew down the Potomac river, banked left near The Mall and flew towards the Capitol building.

Now, I know that this site is dedicated to Vietnam Memorials, but I think that on Memorial Day it is fitting to remember all. In addition, at least one of these aircraft also served in Vietnam, so if you need a connection, there it is.

These are not authentic WWI planes but they sure do recall those first used in combat. these are actually trainers and are of the same type George H.W. Bush trained in to fly in WWII.

This is FiFi, the only still flying B-29 left. There is another being restored but iis not yet ready to fly. someday we may be able to see them fly together.

 

This is an A-26 which flew not only in WWII but also Vietnam.

 

 To cover a few more bases, I am including this pic from Antietam. It was after the Civil War the what we now call Memorial Day was started.

This is a portion of the Antietam Cemetery but the hero that lies here was actually lost in the attack on the U.S.S. Cole. He was greatly loved and is dearly missed.

The Korean War Memorial

Arlington National Cemetery

And, the final pic for Memorial Day.

I have tried to cover those who must be remembered. I have not intentionally left anyone out, I don't have, for example, pics of the Spanish American War memorials, but those too are remembered here, today.

Don't forget to Remember!

Next time, on the 30th, we will check in again in Nebraska. Join me there at 9:00am.

To see other Vietnam Memorials, from any state, click the state name on the left side of this page.

Arkansas VII

My last stop in Arkansas was in Texarkana. Actually, Texarkana, as the name implies is actually in Arkansas and Texas. The state line runs right through town and I have read that the memorial actually sits on the line, part in Arkansas and part in Texas! But, it actually is dedicated to and honors soldiers from four states, Oklahoma and Louisiana, also, border the area and these, too, are remembered here.

The memorial began as a community project that fizzled out over time until the local Vietnam Veterans of America (278) decided to revive it and make it a reality. Once work began in earnest, in July 1988, things began to happen. Local contractors and businesses donated money, materials and services to the chapter members who were hard at work on their own. After a few months of mostly volunteer labor the site was dedicated in November of  '88!

The site remembers nearly 400 lost from Vietnam and on the other side of the memorial, Korea. Since the dedication, another plaque has been added honoring 20th Century Veterans and listing those lost in other actions since Vietnam.

I called today to get an exact count (226)  of Vietnam vets listed on the site. The very nice woman I spoke with at the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce did not know and was unable to find that info in records at her disposal. So, she said she was going to "send somebody down there to get a correct count" and that she would call me back later. (She called about an hour later!) This made me think that my last stop in Arkansas was a mirror image of my first. If you are a follower of this site you know that Dr. Ware, the Historian at the State Capitol went out, himself, to ensure that the count I had for all of Arkansas was correct! I am, once again, astounded at the kindness of people and saying thank you seems insufficient.

Update: The memorial, while it rests upon State Line Avenue, is actually located in the State of Texas! Thanks once again to the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce! I will, however, leave it listed here with Arkansas memorial as I was in Arkansas for this trip. When those from Texas click on Texas on the left side of this page, it will appear there, too!

In doing my research, I was interested to learn that a number of prominent people are from Texarkana. Scott Joplin, Parnelli Jones, Ross Perot and a number of others all come from the area.

Next time, we move into Missouri. There are interesting sites and stories from The Show Me State. Join me there on the 8th, as always, at 9:00am.