Thanksgiving 2023

So, as we give thanks as a Nation, a family, or just as an individual be sure to include in these thoughts the more than 1,000,000 service men and women who have given their lives defending, in one way or another, our country and way of life since the Revolutionary War.

Whatever our own issues and troubles may be, we still owe them our everlasting gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving

Come back on the 28th as we return to North Carolina, meet me there, as usual, at 9:00 am.

To see Vietnam memorials from any state in the country, and a few outside of it, click on the state name on the left side of this page.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Mike Minnick and several others, have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. 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.

Thanksgiving 2022

Just a quick Thanksgiving wish this morning.

Take time, today, to consider all that you have for which to be grateful. 

This may well vary widely for each of us. For many, it may be family, or health, or wealth, or a hundred other things, but if you follow this project it should, also, be for the men and women who pledge their lives to protect.

And, all of those listed on The Wall and elsewhere, here, and in the 24 cemeteries around the world where our brothers and sisters rest.

So, have a great Thanksgiving, but take that minute to remember those who are no longer with us and those who are far from home and their families, and be thankful.

Next time, on the 29th, we will revisit Iowa, so meet me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

I will ask, as I do at the end of nearly every post now, for anyone who has pictures of Vietnam memorials not seen here to please send them to me. I will give you full photo credit for the pic and any information about it you may know. Check your state, or anywhere you may have visited, from the list at the left, or any place else. Please send them to the email at the left or directly to me at Ldddad@comcast.net. Thanks!

Thanksgiving 2021, Native American Vets

Thanksgiving is upon us once again and we have many things for which to be grateful. My list is most assuredly different from yours, but I think we should all agree that the service of Native Americans must be high on anyone's list.

So, today, I am going to hold back on the previously promised visit to South Carolina to address the service of Native Americans.

No group in America serves in our country's defense at a greater rate.

I have written and posted before about the National Native American Vietnam Memorial and you can find that elsewhere on this site. It is located in Neillsville,Wisconsin at a site called The Highground.

 

 

Today, however I want to share the newly dedicated National Native American Memorial in Washington DC.

I posted a couple of pics last November as it was about to be dedicated, but at the time, I could not gain access as it was mostly shrouded in preparation for the next days unveiling.

 

Just outside the Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC is the one year old Native American Veterans Memorial enclosed by a plethora of trees, shrubs, and water plants.

Here you can see the four lances with feathers, prayer clothes, and other mementos that people leave at the site. The green plant life on the surface of the water is Duck weed which will recede during the colder months. I am told there is a plan to remove it before next spring.

Among the many prayer clothes and other things left behind was this teddy bear.

Each of the Services is noted and honored at the entrance to the site.

This is a beautiful and long over due reminder of just how valiantly Native Americans have defended this country. It is striking in its gorgeous setting and in its simplicity, there are no names (those lost in Vietnam are listed upon the memorial in Wisconsin) and no wars listed.

Next time, on Thanksgiving Day I will be with family, I hope you are too. 

I will post a quick holiday greeting and then visit South Carolina on the 30th, so join me there,as usual, at 9:00am.

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

 

Come back on the 1st of December for a new post from Massachusetts, meanwhile have a wonderful day!

Massachusetts XVI

Somehow this never got posted on Thanksgiving Day, so here, a bit late, it is. Not sure what happened but...


It seems fitting that I be writing about a memorial in Massachusetts today, Thanksgiving 2019. It is possibly the most often thought about state at this time of year. Many of us believe that it was here that the first Thanksgiving was held. This is not accurate historically, but it is still our long held belief and somehow just makes posting from Southbridge a bit more meaningful even if the first Thanksgiving as we know it was actually in Virginia.

The memorial here sits in a small area created by Main Street as it enters and exits a circle.

Many names are listed here of those who served in Vietnam, the lost are grouped together in a place of honor and where you will not miss them.

I am always pleased when I see these small markers at these sites.

However, I have never seen one of these before. I do not know what the French population in Massachusetts is, but when I returned from 'Nam the first girl I dated was from the state and she was of French heritage. I am sure she never knew, but she played a huge role in my readjustment and I will always be grateful to her.

 

Next time, on the 8th, we will visit New Hampshire, so join me there as usual at 9:00am.

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

Thanksgiving 2016

Taking some time with family and I hope that you are too.

Each of us have things that we should be thankful for and I hope that today you will take a few moments to remember.

Enjoy.

This guy is safe in the mountains south of Denver, so he has something to be thankful for, too.

Next time, after the holidays, we will, for the first time, go International and visit Windsor, Ontario, so, join me there on the 29th, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Colorado Thanksgiving

I'm taking a break this week but I am wishing you and yours the happiest of Thanksgivings.

Take a moment today to remember the brave men and women who keep us safe today and everyday.

Regular posts will resume on December 2nd with another post from Soldierstone in Colorado, this guys home state.

Join me on the 2nd, as always, at 9:00am