Maine XVIII

While cruising around Maine, in the fall, several years ago I came across this really nice little park. Called Veterans Park (and sometimes High School Park) it sits near the river with an absolutely beautiful view of  a bridge and a small waterfall. It was captivating.

Off in the near distance I saw this memorial and walked over to check it out. Rumford had not been on my list of places with a Vietnam memorial.

Walking the stone path through the park, I came across this POW/MIA design taken directly from the ubiquitous POW/MIA flag. I think it is realty striking and beautiful.

When the memorial was first being designed, 29 from Oxford County were known, now there are 37 listed upon the wall. I have commented often about how names are always found after the fact and added and that I cannot recall a memorial that has not had names added at a later date, including The Wall in D.C.

An interesting aside is that in reading up on tho site I found a quote from someone claiming, in 2007, that this was the first Vietnam memorial in the state. Odd as the state memorial in Augusta was dedicated in 1985. I am often intrigued with this need or desire to be the first. I have written in the past about how many sites around the nation claim to be the first Vietnam memorial in the Country.

Recently, I was in Charlottesville, Virginia to visit what I believe to actually be the first. I've done a bit of research on this and so far, of the hundreds and hundreds that I have visited, Charlottesville is the first. That may not hold up forever and if you know differently, please let me know.

Rumford was chosen for the placement of the memorial because 14 of the original 29 were from Rumford or nearby Mexico.

Located near the intersection of Bridge and River Streets.

Next time, on the 21st, we will return to Maryland, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Sanoran Desert 2018

Recently, I was back in the Sonoran Desert, one of my favorite places and was able to take a few interesting shots.

Many of us, especially those far away from any desert think of what we see in movies like Lawrence of Arabia or our old western favorites. Large spaces of rolling hills of sand, or a few Saguaro Cacti, otherwise pretty desolate and devoid of life.

Well, these places certainly exist, but the Sonoran is filled with life of all kinds. The Sonoran Desert, by the way, is the only place on earth where the iconic Saguaro grow, so if you see them in your movies, the movie was filmed in Arizona, California, or Mexico.

Saguaro in very unusual light

The following pics are a few of the different kinds of life you might come across in the desert. By no means complete, but beautiful all the same.

I was also able to capture this guy peeking out from some Prickly Pear cacti.

Of course, there is also human life in the desert. This Mission was started in 1692 on the Tohono O'Odham reservation inhabited for generation after generation before Father Kino ever showed up to build his mission.

Next time, on the 25th, I'll post some other interesting shots from my various travels. In the meantime, best wishes and happy holidays to all.

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