Alaska IV

In a past post, I whined a bit about how Alaska does not have a specific Vietnam memorial. They have done something that is unique, I believe!

While, again, it is not specific to Vietnam, the state did name a previously unnamed mountain as Mt. POW-MIA.

From the Wall of Honor, at the Matsu Visitor's Center, you can look directly at it. As I said in the last post the series of walls seem to form an arrow head pointing right at it. Hazel told me that, as far as she knew, this had not been planned, but agreed that it seemed to be so!

My brother and I seriously discussed renting a chopper (or something) and flying over to get better pics, but as you can see from the photos, the weather would just not co-operate. It was cloudy and wet the whole time we were there.

A Vietnam vet, a marine, climbed the mountain and planted the POW/MIA flag at the summit.

The plaque in the first picture is at the Matsu visitors Center near the memorial.

You can find more about this story and pics of him planting the flag, here;

http://www.vnvmc-ak.com/PhotoPages/MTPOWMIA.htm

Alaska III

On the south side of Wasilla, heading back towards Anchorage, we found this memorial at the Matsu Visitors Center. I noticed on another site that the Center is technically located in Palmer, Alaska. However, it is hard to miss as you travel from Anchorage towards Wasilla.

Called the Wall Of Honor, it lists the names of vets from a variety of operations. It includes many from Vietnam. In fact, any vet who served honorably can have his name included on one of the walls.

The first set of six panels on the first and largest of the wall is complete, but there is still quite a bit of room for additions

Each year memorial services are held on Veteran's Day and Memorial Day. Names are added periodically, too.

As I stood looking at the walls and reading names, it occurred to me that the shape of the walls resembled an arrow head. It seems to be pointing at Mt. POW-MIA directly behind the wall in the not to far distance. I will post more about the Mountain in my next post.

As stated above, this memorial is open to any service person who served Honorably. It does not matter in which war or where you are from. In fact, someone has added Audie Murphy to this site. If anyone would like to have a name included on this memorial applications may be gotten from;

Hazel Schwulst
2076 South Grand Birch
Wasilla, Alaska, 99654

There is a $50.00 fee for the sand blasting process and helps with upkeep of the site.

I spoke with Hazel and she told me that volunteers care for the site, replace flags as necessary and that she makes the stencils for newly added names, herself. Flags have to be replace fairly often as the wind blows constantly at the site. Whenever possible, they will place relatives next to each other and that they have several fathers and sons together on the wall.

If you get to Alaska, this site is well worth a visit. Wasilla is only about 40 miles north of Anchorage.

The next post, April 25, will be about Mt. POW-MIA; a unique and interesting story!