Memorial Day 2022

This weekend, as we gather with friends and family to celebrate Memorial Day, let us not forget the reason. Memorial Day began after the Civil War, as Decoration Day, and has gone through a number of changes over the years. What does not change is the devastating price paid by the few for so many. I found this sign in Heck Park in Monroe County, Michigan. I have written about the Park in previous posts, but I wanted to post this image on this day, May 29. Tomorrow is the original Memorial Day and even though we celebrate it, now, on the last Monday in May, May 30 will always be the "real" memorial day for many of us. This year, 2022, we happen to have the dates sync up correctly. The sign is old enough that nothing after Vietnam has been included, but it still delivers a sobering message even if the years of our involvement in 'nam are off by nearly 10.

Take a minute today to remember and read a fascinating history of Memorial Day at;

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html  

Also, it seems that Rolling to Remember (formerly Rolling Thunder) is alive and well and making a strong comeback in D.C. this weekend.

I just read that, now, 40 years after it was built, the The Wall is still the number 1 tourist attraction in Washington DC  visited by five million people a year.

Welcome brothers and sisters!

Next time, on the 3rd of June, we will revisit Arizona, so join me then at 9:00am.

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

Arizona XXII

It is truly the end of an era.

No matter what you think of the politics of the Rolling Thunder organization it is undeniable that they have had a huge impact upon out country, veterans, and how we remember and honor our lost brothers and sisters from Vietnam.

Beginning in 1988, six years after the dedication of The Wall, the tradition of motorcyclist riding past The Wall began. It grew into a huge event with literally hundreds of thousands of bikes from all over the country participating in the "run to The Wall." It would be difficult, if not impossible, to calculate the total number of riders who have passed by to salute, honor and remember the men and women listed upon the black granite.

Each May new names, if any have been identified, are added to the honor roll. Last May (2018) none were added and one wonders if in fact the last name has been found. This brings to mind Springsteen's Who'll be the last to die?

Rolling Thunder has announced that 2019 will be the last ride, ending 32 years of honoring our brothers and sisters at The Wall. They cite a number of reasons for this decision but recommend that local groups continue the tradition in some way. We will see how that develops.

At the event in Peoria, I ran across this bike, just as I was leaving for the night. I didn't have a tripod with me so these are the best I could do under the conditions.

This seems a fitting salute to all the riders, millions of them, who came from every corner of the country and in fact from around the world to ride past The Wall. If you have ever dreamed of participating in Rolling Thunder, named after the B-52 raids in 'Nam that began in 1965, or of just coming down to pay witness and homage on the curbs and corners of Washington, DC, this is your final chance. The main event, the run, is scheduled for May 26th. Check out other info here:

https://www.rollingthunderrun.com/2019-run-info/

Next time, on the 28th, we will get back to the regular cycle of posts. California is next, join me there at 9:00am.

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

Memorial Day 2017

I posted this last year, but I feel that it bears repeating

Stop Saying "HAPPY Memorial Day"

By Jeff Seeber

I hope I live long enough to be able to get through the month of May just once without some moron sending me a Happy Memorial Day e-mail or hearing some idiot wishing people a Happy Memorial Day.

It's bad enough I'm reminded every May and every November that very few Americans know the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day, but expecting me to remain silent about the growing trend to turn Memorial Day into some sort of celebration is asking too much. I usually chagrin and bear it, but I'm getting too old to care who I piss off from one day to the next, so if you're one of those fools who sends me a Happy Memorial Day e-mail or wishes people a Happy Memorial Day, listen up!

There is nothing Happy about Memorial Day. That's why it's called M-e-m-o-r-i-a-l Day! Memorial Day is to be commemorated, not celebrated. Memorial Day is supposed to be a day of quiet reflection, remembrance, tribute and rendering honors to those who have given their lives ensuring you nitwits can have the freedom to be able to take full advantage of the rights their deaths secured for you, one of which is the freedom to make ignorant statements like Happy Memorial Day.

Believe it or not, Memorial Day was not placed on calendars to remind you that summer has officially begun. Memorial Day is not the first day of Get Drunk While Pretending To Be An Outdoorsman At Your Cabin season. Memorial Day was not created by General Motors so their dealerships could have a Three-Day Used Car Clearance Blowout. Memorial Day is not intended to be the first day of National Burn That Burger Month.

Memorial Day is supposed to be commemorated on May 30th ... not May 28th, May 29th or May 31st. It makes no difference what day of the week the 30th falls, that's when Memorial Day is supposed to be observed. However, the United States Congress changed the date in 1971 to the last Monday in May to give Americans yet another 3-day weekend. After all, what's more important ... one-hundred-plus years of American tradition or giving Americans one more 3-day weekend to have a few brewskis while driving to see Yellowstone with the wife and kids?

The National Moment of Remembrance was started to encourage all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. Of course, it's been a dismal failure. I mean, c'mon, you expect Americans to pause for an ENTIRE MINUTE to remember those who died serving the people who are too busy to pause for ONE ENTIRE MINUTE? Are you nuts?

It's bad enough American Civics is no longer taught in American schools. It's bad enough most Americans ignore Armed Forces Day. It's bad enough that very few civilians know that May is National Military Family Appreciation Month. It's bad enough few Americans understand that Veterans Day is now intended to honor all those who have worn a uniform serving in this nation's Military, especially those still living. But it's pitiful that most Americans can't seem to comprehend that Memorial Day is the one day a year when we are asked to remember those who gave their lives for this country.

Let me repeat that ... they gave their LIVES. Most of them were teenagers or in their twenties. Many of them left behind a spouse after being married for a very short period of time. Some of them left behind infant children who grew up never knowing one of the two people who brought them into this world with the good fortune of being born a free person. All of them had plans for a full and long life, but they interrupted those plans because they knew that serving their country, and the risks that commitment entails, was more important than life itself.

Their dreams and their expectations ended suddenly on a battlefield in some foreign land, or in a training accident at home or abroad, or during a secret mission to ensure this country is not attacked without warning. Some of them are buried in unmarked graves on foreign soil or rest forever in the sea. Some became missing in the fog of war and will never be accounted for.

Is it too much to ask that Americans pause for one day every year to recognize those who gave the last full measure of devotion? Are we as a nation so selfish, so lazy, so ignorant of the reality of the price of freedom, that we can't set aside even one day to acknowledge the sacrifice of each and every one of our honorable dead? Apparently it is too much to ask. Apparently expecting Americans to relinquish even one day of basking in the sun while swilling beer is too much of an imposition. Let's face it, most Americans prefer a Happy Memorial Day.

For those of us who served, and for the families and friends of those who gave their lives, Memorial Day will always be the one day a year when we publicly honor our buddies, our brothers, our sisters, our sons, our daughters, our fathers, our mothers, our nieces and nephews, our cousins ... all those who perished, their young lives cut short, while serving America ... while fighting next to us ... while protecting you. The rest of the year, we remember them in private. We remember them daily. We will never forget them.

To simplify all of this:

Armed forces Day, the third Saturday of May and it honors those serving.

Memorial Day, Last Monday in May and it honors those that died while serving

Veterans Day, November 11 and it honors those who served.

From Mike in 2017:

I would like to add to this, that To remember is why hundreds of thousands of bikers, many, many of them vets, ride to The Wall each Memorial Day in what is called "Rolling Thunder." They are riding today, the 29th and I hope to be among them, but if I cannot, I will certainly be with them in spirit, memorializing the 59, 315* names on The Wall.

Next time we will return to California, so meet me there at 9:00am on the 3rd of June.

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


Since I wrote the above a few days ago, I spoke to the folks at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the folks who built and maintain The Wall. They told me that three more names have been added this May, bringing the new total to 58,318. 

Once again,  I wonder, are these the last?

These new additions are:

• Kenneth R. McGuire; CPL, USMC; Rib Lake, Wisc.; Panel 34W, Line 42
• John T. Whitson; SGT, USA; Huntsville, Texas; Panel 32W, Line 58
• Edward L. Wilmers; SGT, USA; Lapeer, Mich.; Panel 62E, Line 7

Rest in peace, brothers.

Next time, something a little different, a plea for your help. Check back on June 3rd for more.

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

Take Me Home Huey

I had the very great honor and privilege to be invited to visit the Marine Corp Museum in Quantico (Triangle, Va)., to help welcome the Take Me Home Huey project.

The Huey was shot down on a rescue mission in 1969 during which two of the crew were lost.

Steve Maloney working with Light Horse Legacy endeavored to mark the recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam war with a project that might help bridge the gap between 'Nam vets and society, and bring greater awareness of and assistance to veterans suffering with PTSD)*

The project which includes not only the chopper but, also, a dedicated song and a documentary is in the process of traveling the country for the next three years.

After it was refurbished and re-skinned, Steve covered the bird with iconic symbols of the things G.I.'s longed for while waiting to be taken, often in part by a Huey, back home, back to "the world."

An interesting feature of the project is the unusual use of "parts" from the Huey, left as they might have been found all these years later.

The two crew members lost on that final rescue mission are commemorated on the chopper's skids.

Inside, there is this metal box that is becoming a time capsule. I was asked to contribute something to it and I consider this quite an honor. I spent a lot of time wondering what might be appropriate and finally it dawned on me that a copy of the documentary made about Vietnam vets from my community might be just the thing. The documentary called, Honor and Gratitude, can be found elsewhere on this site or on YouTube, if you are interested. Seven 'Nam vets were interviewed and perhaps it will be interesting or enlightening to those who open the time capsule 50 years from now. I must admit, I wonder if they will have any old technology around to play it, but I am optimistic.

I arrived early on the day before the actual events and was thrilled to see hundreds and hundreds of bikers rolling in, one contingent of the hundreds of thousands that will participate in Rolling Thunder on Sunday, the 29th. I had to wait quite some time to let them get into the parking area before I could follow.

This it turns out was a happy coincidence for them. They were on the Ride to the Wall and they always stop at the museum, but did not know the chopper would be there. I spoke with many and they were from all over the country, North Carolina, Georgia, New Mexico and Arizona. I met others from Washington State.

Many wanted pics with the Huey and I was very happy to help them out with that, In got to use a whole bunch of different cameras.  All in all a lot of memories were shared, it was very moving.

This is a pic of Steve Maloney, the artist, and yours truly.

A group of, mostly Native American, vets from Yakima Washington happened to be here, too. This gentleman is nearly 84 years old and served in both Korea and Vietnam. When he heard that I had visited the memorial in Yakima last October, he gave a very nice Washington State Welcome Home pin to add to those on my cap.

I had another experience that was new for me. I was talking to the son of one of the principles in the project, I am guessing he was a High School student. He was showing me a hat pin someone had given him. He was saying how much he liked it and wanted to start a collection.I was really impressed with this, so I pulled my 50th Anniversary pin off my hat and said, "Here, now you have two." His dad came over and very gently, yet firmly, said "No, those are only for 'Nam vets." and handed it back to me. I had not actually been aware of this and I feel a little badly for setting this young man up for disappointment. I apologized to him, he seemed OK.

The next day the exhibit was officially open to the public. Many people had the opportunity to see the chopper, talk to Steve and his partners, visit with the crew and families and revisit a part of our past, our history, that we are still trying to explain, understand and learn from. ABC news was there is the person of Jay Korff who spent much time talking to many who were involved and shooting film for a project on which he is working. all in all, I think this was a remarkable event and I want to thank Steve and all his crew and Light Horse Legacy for allowing me to participate in my small way.

* (I had the opportunity on Tuesday evening to hear Mike Love, of the Beach Boys, speak about how Transcendental Meditation is being used by vets to help with their PTS. (PTSD))

Next time, on the 9th, we will visit a small town in New Jersey. so, as I always ask. please join me there at 9:00am.

To see other Vietnam memorials from all around the country, please click on any state name on the left side of this page.

North Carolina X

Wilmington, N.C.is such a beautiful city, I think I could very easily live there.

It, also, has two Vietnam memorials at least one of which I will share with you today.

Located along the river front it is in the center of one of the highly visited areas of the city.

It is called the Rolling Thunder Veterans Memorial as it was sponsored by the veterans advocacy group and is located along Water Street along the Cape Fear River.

To read more about this site, go here:

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20091114/articles/911149987Completed in 2009, it honors many, but was built by Vietnam vets.

 

Our next stop, om the 13th, will once again be in Oregon, so meet me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Arkansas IV

The White County Vietnam Memorial is located in Searcy about 50 miles northeast of Little Rock. On the corner of N. Spruce and W. Race Streets, in front of the Court House is the three paneled memorial to the 13 lost and 3 MIA's from the county.

This memorial includes something I have never encountered before. The insignia on the top right is that of the Seabees.The Seabees are the Navy's Construction Battalion (CB's) and they have built bases, roads etc all over the world. If you are interested you may find out lots more, here;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabee_%28US_Navy%29

I spent some time talking to a guy from the local Rolling Thunder group and he told me that he thinks he remembers hearing that one of the MIA's was eventually accounted for. I spent some time trying to verify this and could not do so. One hopes that is is right and that info simply eludes me.

He told me another interesting story, too. He, like me, is a member of Patriot Guard. Recently, when the funeral of a local soldier took place, more than 2400 members of Patriot Guard showed up to honor him and protect his family from any who might dare interfere.

New Hampshire II

The memorial grove, as I call it, at Boscawen features a number of other memorials. They may not be specifically Vietnam related but they are fitting and beautiful. The following photos are of just a few of these.

The first picture is of the Navy memorial asking for remembrance of those sailors who have died in service to our country. I was recently in California and visited the magnificent Navy Vietnam Memorial in Coronado, near San Diego. It, too, is quite remarkable and I will write more about it when I begin relating my travels in the Golden State. I expect to be writing about California in the not too distant future.

The second and third photo here depict the Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial. I have never actually seen one before. It is in a serene little spot with benches for quite reflection. It was quite moving.

The next one is one of two from Rolling Thunder. Most know of their ongoing tribute and honor to vets, but I wonder how many know that their name comes from the B-52 b0ombing missions in "Nam. These were referred to as rolling thunder and could be heard and felt many miles away. The sound of dozens (or hundreds) of Harleys or other big bikes is reminiscent of this, so hence the name.

The final picture is of the Air Force memorial. It is a replica of the one in Arlington, Va. Situated on the grounds of Ft. Myer, the three spires recall soaring and one of the maneuvers of the Air Force Thunderbirds flying team. Here, as well as, in Arlington, the memorial leaves one spot open for the "missing man" as is the custom at flyovers at funerals.

You can find much more info about the Air Force Memorial here;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Memorial

New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Vietnam memorial sits in a lovely grove of trees just as you enter the state Veteran's cemetery. Located in Boscawen (110 Danial Webster Highway) this unusual site not only boasts the Nam memorial, but a number of others as well. As you walk through the cathedral-like grove on the brick paths you will find dedications from Vietnam Veteran's of America, Rolling Thunder and the Nam Knights. In addition there are POW, Air Force and Navy sites, something one does not often see.

New Hampshire gave, depending on whom you listen to, 226, 227, or 238 of her sons to the efforts in Nam. Regardless of the actual number, they are remembered and honored here along with veterans, of other wars, in other times, throughout the cemetery.

As you enter the cemetery you proceed down this flag lined road. The Nam memorial is to your right and from there you enter the grove with all of its monuments.

The writing on the bench, to the left of the insignia, at the Nam Knights site says that they are a military and law enforcement motorcycle club. Note that the dragon is holding a Vietnam Service Ribbon in his front paws!

This is another one of those visits that is going to take more than one posting to due justice. So, for now I will simply include these initial photos and over the next couple of posts (every 5 days) fill in the rest from this remarkable and dignified tribute. Check back because there is a story here about a daily tribute that you may find very interesting. So far it is unique on my journey!

Virginia III

Deep in the Shenandoah Valley is the Virginia town of Winchester. I had read that there was a memorial in the town but had not seen any pictures of the site. I went not knowing exactly what to expect. I was more than excited to find this great memorial.

This is actually a POW/MIA memorial and the level of local participation really stood out at this site. The 62 POW/MIA from Virginia are lovingly honored here. Those who have been repatriated and a Medal of Honor winner are designated with symbols on the black granite wall. The granite for the wall came from Georgia and the gray stone for the pavers was mined in South Dakota. The pavers, all around the plaza, were placed by local businesses and residents. One of the first to step up and participate was the local Harley-Davidson dealership.

When one enters the site, it is 31 steps, on the walkway of local stone, from the entrance around the circle of benches to directly in from of the wall. 31 in each direction for a total of 62, to honor the 62 whose memory will be remembered here, forever.

The site was proposed, designed, and for the most part, actually built by Rolling Thunder, Chapter 1, of Winchester. The group proposed the site in 2004 with a desire to have it completed by Veterans Day of 2005. Many thought this to be an impossible task. However, the dedication on the proposed date silenced all doubt that it could be done. Winchester's Mayor and more than 500 local citizens and Vets were on hand to honor those whose names are inscribed on this wall. Another interesting fact is that no government funds of any kind were used. The $350,000 needed was raised from private donations and on the day of the dedication there was not one penny owed to anyone! In addition, a perpetual care fund was established and later for a variety of reasons was abandoned. So, now, fund raisers have been held and pavers sold to keep this memorial in beautiful the condition it so rightly deserves.

One of the original planners of the site was killed in an accident last year and a memorial fund to support the upkeep of the site was established in his name. If you would like to contribute, or buy a paver, contact the address below;

The Jim Burkins memorial Fund
for the POW/MIA Memorial
C/O Winchester Parks Foundation
1001 E. Cork Street
Winchester, VA 22601

4 x 8 pavers are $100
24 x 24 are $1000.

This is a 501C3 organization, so these contributions are tax deductible.

The memorial is located in;
Jim Barnett Park
1001 E. Cork Street
Winchester, VA 22601

Alabama

Alabama is in the unique situation of having more than one Vietnam Memorial. Even more intriguing is the fact that they are all in the same place! The story goes something like this. Vets in Southern Alabama wanted a memorial, so they arranged to build one at Battleship Park where the USS Alabama has been on display and open to the public for some time. It was, also, decided that when the States traveling memorial, dedicated to all of Alabama's fallen completed its tour, that it, too, would be placed at the same site. The Baldwin and Mobile County Memorial was to honor the 175 fallen from those counties while the larger one pays tribute to all 1213 lost from the state.

It was later determined that the the larger traveling wall was not a candidate for inclusion at Battleship Park, so the vets decided to build their own version. It, too, is now located at the site. The site is said to include a "Huey" but it was not there on the days that I visited. The site does have a couple of interesting and extremely moving features not seen elsewhere.

First, there is a life-size statue of a vet looking at the wall, "Remembering" as the information on site explains. It was decided that he should be representative of vets today and therefore he is clearly older. Described at the time of placement as "fiftyish", he is in an old fatigue shirt and jeans. A patch on the shirt reads;"It's never over" It occurs to me what a statement that is. Despite all the literature and movies to the contrary, most of us came home and pursued our lives in a relatively "normal" (whatever that means) fashion. We went to school, and/or got jobs, married, had kids, grand kids, just like everyone else. It is also true that a day does not go by without some memory or less frequently, now, a brief flashback to that other time. For me, it is usually triggered by the smell of diesel fuel from a construction site or something. I think it is probably safe to say that all vets from all wars have similar experiences.

The third picture in this series is of an commemorative wall that is part of the continuous fund raising necessary to maintain the site. It sits just on the edge of the pentagon shaped memorial site and bricks can be purchased for any service veteran to help in this effort. As you can see there are a number of spaces yet available for purchase. If you would like to participate please contact the memorial;

Call (334)649-2281 or e-mail watkeison@aol.com


There is a B-52 on site and the wall is considered to be "under the wing", once again protected by these iconic planes. This one is a vet too. Named "Calamity Jane, she flew more than 100 missions in 'Nam. I think everyone has probably heard of the motorcycle run held each year in D.C. Thousands and thousands of bikes ride from the Pentagon past the Wall. It is referred to as "Rolling Thunder" due to the throbbing engines but I wonder if as many people know that the name comes from the bombing runs made by this and other B-52's, in country, called "Rolling Thunder." It is my greatest wish to ride in D.C.'s Rolling Thunder and am currently making plans to do just that.

More on this moving, exceptional site next time.