Rhode Island VII

I have listed this site as Rhode Island even though it is actually across the river in Connecticut. The town of Pawcatuck is, literally, only a few feet, across the bridge from Westerly. In many areas I have seen the two hyphenated as Westerly-Pawcatuck! When I fill in the labels, I will include Connecticut among them so that those seeking only memorials in that state will have access too!

This is a simple, yet moving site and while I realize that POW/MIA sites have evolved over the years to represent all (as they should) they will be forever, in my mind, associated with 'Nam. So, I include this one here

Rhode Island VI

Just up the hill from the last site by the river, stands this memorial that has grown substantially over the years. Originally a WWI memorial in built in 1937, it was expanded and rededicated in 2002 and now includes numerous additional vets from WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

An interesting feature is that Vietnam is actually memorialized in two different places at this site. The second picture shows the large "wall" on which many 'Nam vets are honored, but just a few feet away is a different listing. I have contacted a number of people in the area including the Library, Newspaper and others and no one has yet been able to tell me why this is so. As always, if I am able to solve this mystery I will post what I learn.

Next time, we will visit a memorial in a different city, in a different state, about 50 feet away from the one we saw previously at the bridge. Join me on the 15th at 9:00am.

Rhode Island V

Divided only by a river (and a state line), the towns of Westerly, R.I and Pawcatuck, Ct. honor vets in a number of sites.  There seems to be no absolutely specific Vietnam memorial but those who served or were lost are honored at each of these sites.

Those lost are honored and remembered at the memorial on the Westerly side of the Pawcatuck river. In addition, just a short walk up the hill brings you to what was, at first a WWI memorial. The names of many vets were added later when the park was renovated in 2002. I will take you there next time as there are several pictures I want to use.

See you next time, up the hill, on August 5th at 9:00am