Maryland XLV

For a number of posts now I have been saying, at the end of each post, that soon we would hear from Elli from Maryland.

Well, today is the day.

While traveling to Maryland's famous eastern shore Elli came upon a memorial near Libby's Coastal Kitchen restaurant in Stevensville. It is a replica of the statue of the Three Servicemen found near The Wall in Washington, DC.

These are a few of the pics she so kindly sent to me.

The owner of the restaurant, Walter Petrie dedicated this memorial to three of his fellow solders who were killed in 'Nam. It is not too often that you find a memorial placed by one man.

The men from his unit are named and honored on this plaque:

Michael Twigg

Raymond Knight

Loyd McBroom

Thank you, Mr. Petrie, you honor us all.

So, if you find yourself traveling east in Maryland on Rte 50, over the Bay Bridge, on to Kent Island, stop by Mr. Petrie's Libby's Coastal Kitchen in Stevensville. Have a bite, maybe a drink and honor these three fallen and the other fifty eight thousand plus who gave all for our efforts in Vietnam and the Vietnamese people.

Libby's is located at 357 Pier One Road. 

The next time I write about this site, I will point out something I noticed about it, something I have never seen before.

Next time, on the 24th of January, we will return to Massachusetts. So, as always, join me there at 9:00 am. 

To see Vietnam memorials from any state and Canada, Ireland, and Puerto Rico click on the individual names on the left side of this page.

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 from Florida, Tim from Virginia and Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, and Elli from Maryland, among others, 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.

Louisana XII

I know that I promised to return to Maine in the last post, but I decided while looking over some old photos to do something a little different first.

Whenever I find a memorial with our brothers and sisters represented, I take a "portrait" of the faces. In looking through some of these today. I thought I would begin to feature them here, too.

So, today, these are from the Vietnam memorial in New Orleans. as I have said previously it is one of two in the city and the only one with soldiers represented. This memorial stands at the Super-dome on the Poydras Street side. It is elevated so you must either look up or climb up to the above street level to see it.

Over the years I have had the honor to meet a few of the sculptors of some of these memorials. They tell me that in most cases the people represented are not actual individuals, but imaginary or, sometimes, composites of many, many people. I have not been able to determine which is the case for these three warriors (top) who are trying to rescue their fallen brother (the last pic.) In fact, the very few exceptions of which I am aware is The Three Servicemen statue in DC, adjacent to The Wall. Two of the three there are said to be of specific individuals and the third is a composite of a couple of guys. One other exception, as a coincidence, in in Iberville, Louisiana.

So, next time, on the 2nd, we will actually return to Maine, so, join me there, as always at 9:00am. Occasionally, I will post additional "The Faces of Remembrance" photos, here.

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

Georgia VI

Columbus is the home of a major military installation that has a terrific infantry museum and a couple of memorials I will write about at a later time. Today, however, I want to share with you a smaller, local, memorial built by the surrounding community.

Located in a small park on the corner of Buena Vista Road and Lawyers Lane it honors not only those who were lost but all that served.

The morning we arrived (my lifelong friend and 'Nam vet Steve was with me) it was so humid and foggy I couldn't get a shot without my camera lenses completely fogging up. I've never really had this happen before. so, we waited and waited for the sun to rise a little higher and burn some of the fog off and for the camera components to clear and become usable.

Once they did, we got to work.

The memorial is made entirely of bricks, some of which have been sculpted to create a scene of several vets, similar to The Three Servicemen at the Wall in DC. I have only seen an all brick memorial once before, in Pennsylvania.

It turned into a beautiful day and I was pleased that we waited for the humidity and fog to dissipate. I love these community memorials after writing about so many of the larger, more elaborate ones throughout the country, it is these that I spend the most time at now.

The bricks adjacent to the soldiers are covered with names. There seemed to be no notation as to branch of service, years served in-country, or if any of these were lost. Just a community remembering and honoring their own.

Next time, on the 28th, we will venture back to Maine, so join me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Georgia, or any other state, click the state name on the left side opf this page.

Montgomery County Salute to Vietnam Veterans II

Here, I would like to say just a few more words about the Montgomery County, Maryland, Salute to Vietnam Veterans called, Honor and Gratitude and hopefully, include some pics from the event.

The morning of October 24th was clear and beautiful but somewhat cold. I rode over to Battley Harley Davidson really glad I had chosen to grab my heavier coat. When I arrived about 30 minutes early there were already a number of riders from Nam Knights in the parking lot. As the morning wore on quite a few more showed up. In the end we had, at the last count I heard, 36 Nam Knight members and 24 non members for a total of 60. A few more may have rolled in before we actually took off.

A few of the riders

We were escorted by a fairly large contingent of Montgomery County Police on bikes and in cruisers and they made the trip over to the Honor and Gratitude site, at the Universities of Shady Grove, safe and uneventful. Thanks a lot guys for a job well done!

Upon arrival we were all gathered in front of the Vietnam era Huey for photos.

                                                                                          Photo by Sean M. Walsh

Later, the Huey took off and was joined by another that had been circling the area and they flew off together, after buzzing the parking lot in farewell.

Inside the place was packed. We were not sure how many would actually show up, but every seat was taken and there were people standing in the rear, in doorways, and out in the hallway.

Bob Scheiffer, recently, of CBS news was the host and introduced each speaker. He was most professional and eloquent, as we have come to expect from him. A little side note is that Mr, Scheiffer usually gets a large chunk of change for speeches and appearances, he refused even one cent for this, he wanted to be part of it. Thank you, sir.

Bob Scheiffer and Ike Leggett

Many politicians and other came to pay their respects and were well received by the group of vets, their families, friends, and well wishers.

Cmdr. Everette Alvarez, the first pilot shot down over north Vietnam and a resident of the Hanoi Hilton for 8 and 1/2 years spoke for the rest of the POW's in attendance. There were 5, in total, and they said it was the first time that all five county residents had been in the same room together since coming home. To say that it was moving would be a gross understatement.

The event had been planned for about 90 minutes but ended up pushing three hours, so many people wanted to speak. How does one say no to someone who wishes to finally say Welcome Home after more than 40 years?

You can find a film of the whole, inside, activity here:

 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z8qYy7nXksY


Portions of the documentary that is being made about Nam vets from Montgomery County were shown and were warmly received. many, many people came up to speak to me after they were shown. It was quite an honor to have been among those chosen for this effort and I am humbled to have been included among these heroes. I am no hero, but these guys had amazing stories, I still don't quite know why I was amongst them, but I, as I said, am honored.

There were a number of tables from different organizations in the foyer of the building: The VA, VVA groups, Gold Star Mothers and a number of others. My table for A Means to Heal was very well received and I spent a long time talking with many people about my travels and various memorials I have visited. I want to thank everyone who stopped by and the many of those who later checked out my site. The number of visits jumped dramatically after the event. I hope that this continues and that the word about A Means to Heal continues to spread. I always assure people that "there is nothing for sale" on the site, just info for vets and those interested.

I heard, just today, that the state of Maryland is planning a huge event in the spring of 2016. Called LZ Maryland, it will be held at the State Fair Grounds in Timonium, near Baltimore. As I learn more, I will update you here.

The picture portion of this post did not go as planned. If I figure out the texchnical stuff, I will post some pics at a later date.

OK, next time, on the 9th of November, I will post a new site from Pennsylvania, so join me, as usual, at 9:00am.

To see other memorial sites from anywhere in the nation, click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Montgomery County, Maryland Welcome Home

I know the last post said we would be revisiting North Carolina today, but it occurred to me that this might be of interest, too, as it is actually taking place today.

Montgomery County, Maryland, just outside Washington D.C. is holding their official Vietnam Welcome Home today, the 24th of October. Called, Honor and Gratitude, Montgomery County Salutes Vietnam Veterans, the event is being held at the Universities at Shady Grove and will feature Bob Schieffer as the host and Cmdr Everett Alvarez, the first pilot shot down over Vietnam and held captive for 8 and a half years at the infamous Hanoi Hilton as a primary speaker. Five POW's from the County will be in attendance and I am told that this is a very rare event. I met one of them a couple of nights ago, Fred Cherry, and his story, not surprisingly, was incredible and inspiring.

Many other veterans and dignitaries will address the expected 1000 plus vets and their families and friends.

A documentary about local veterans will be an integral part of the ceremonies, which will be opened with a motorcycle rally sponsored by Battley Harley Davidson, Nam Knights, and other riding groups.

I am honored to say that I am featured in the documentary and will participate in the ride. In addition, I have been asked to set up a table featuring A Means to Heal and will be showing many, many pictures of Vietnam memorials from across the nation. I am featuring several printed photos, too and will post them here.

As many times as I have seen The Three Servicemen, I have never seen it appear more lifelike than on this day last December. I was just struck by how the sun highlighted the colors.

I make it a practice, when ever I find a memorial with statues, to try to get portraits of the solders portrayed. I particularly like these.

Wreaths Across America had just visited Arlington National Cemetery as they do every year and after visiting there, I came over to The Wall and was surprised to see that each panel had been honored with a wreath, too.

So, I hope that after today's event I will have additional photos and more stories and information to post here, so check back soon.

In the mean time, I will post from North Carolina, which had been scheduled for today, on the 29th, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Florida X

Port St. Lucie lies on the Atlantic coast of Florida about 90 miles north of Ft. Lauderdale. At the Veteran's Memorial Park on Veteran's Memorial Highway is this memorial that is very reminiscent of The Wall in DC.

It lists the 1954 from the state who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. They are honored and remembered here forever.

This portrayal of The Three Servicemen gives a slightly more stark version of the message from the one in DC.

It always makes me feel a little better when I see that those who suffered long after the war are remembered. I read this week that 22 service personnel resort to suicide every day. We are getting better at dealing with the suffering and loss of our brothers and sisters but for far too many the help comes too little, too late.

One of the markers at the site proclaims this to be Florida's Vietnam Memorial. I am not sure who gets to decide that because the official one is in Tallahassee (seen elsewhere on this site) but, I guess it does not matter to me, there cannot be too many in my opinion. 

In Ireland there is a "discussion" going on as to whether there should be a second memorial built to the many Irish citizens who came to America to enlist in the service and fight in Vietnam. There were actually quite a few and at least 19 are honored on The Wall and I don't see how an additional memorial should bother anyone.

Detail from above

Next time, on February 5th, we will meet again in Idaho. So, join me there at 9:00am

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

The Wall at the Holiday season

In the last post, I featured the efforts of Wreaths Across America, specifically at Arlington National Cemetery.

The same day I visited Arlington, I drove across the Potomac and stopped at The Wall. In the past, at this time of year, I have featured photos of The Wall boasting a Christmas tree. It always bothered me that I did not take the actual picture, so this year I decided to rectify the situation.

It was a beautiful day, unseasonably warm, and seemed just perfect to see if a tree was up this year, too.
Well, it was and I was surprised to find that Wreaths Across America had been here too. There was a wreath at every panel of The Wall.

As I approached the site, I was struck by the way the sun was illuminating the backs of The Three Servicemen. They have never looked so present and alive as they did today. It is said the they are walking out of the jungle and looking to see if their names are on The Wall. Today, it seemed to me, they were looking at the Christmas tree at the apex of The Wall. If you look closely, between the two men, you can see it, too.

The tree is covered with the usual seasonal stuff, but it also has pictures of many of the lost. It is quite moving.

A rare view of The Wall with no people in the picture. I waited quite some time to be able to get this shot. without serious time-lapse efforts a pic of the whole Wall would likely be impossible. This is not a bad thing. I have been to The Wall at all hours including the middle of the night and have never been alone.

Next time, we will resume our regular travels around the nation. Join me at 9:00am on the 1st of the new year.

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

Alabama III

Just south of the Tennessee state line on I-65 is the Ardmore Welcome Center. Near Athens, Alabama, the center is home to a Vietnam memorial erected by local VVA members. Near exit 365, it lists 1213 names from the state lost in 'Nam.

It sits in a beautiful tree covered park like setting along with a Korean memorial and something you don't always see!

The memorial lists names by county, has a depiction of The Three Servicemen, and a biblical verse.

By the way, here is that thing you don't always see! A Saturn IB missile! Huntsville, Alabama, not far from here is one of NASA's locations and also the home to Space Camp, so this does not seem so oddly out of place, knowing that!

 

 Next time, we will visit Gilbert, Arizona. So join me on the 28th, as always, at 9:00am!



To see all posts from Alabama, or any other state, click on the states name on the left side of this page.

The Three Servicemen, Washington, D.C.

The statue of The Three Servicemen (sometimes called The Three Soldiers) that is adjacent to the Wall in DC has recently undergone a renovation and restoration process. It was unveiled recently and I was forwarded a lengthy notice about the process and history of the project. I have tried repeatedly to post all that information here but there is something (for the life of me I can't figure out what!) in the text that prevents it from posting when I attempt to do so. So, I gave up. At least for a while. I kept looking at that unposted piece and decided to give this a try as a compromise.

These links will take you to info and pictures of the newly completed work. The pictures above are some that I took about a year ago. In them you can see some of the aging and damage that has now been repaired.

This takes you to the article about the project

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=59955


This one shows a close-up of the completed work

http://www.defense.gov/DODCMSShare/NewsStoryPhoto/2010-07/hrs_100708-D-7377C-007a.jpg