Florida XXVIII

It is with the utmost pleasure that I return to my original project today, writing about actual memorials. I love highlighting some of the brave men and women who are honored at these sites, but my original idea was to share actual memorials with those who might not be able to travel to see them all. So, today, back to Florida and an actual Wall of names.

The last time I posted about Florida, I featured pictures from Peg and Ray who kindly forwarded dozens of shots from a large museum.

Central Florida Vietnam Veterans created the National Vietnam War Museum not too far from Orlando in 1982 and later renamed it for Cpl. Larry Smedley.

You can see that post here.

Today, a few pics of the Wall that features the names of a number of soldiers. There is no "key" to tell if these soldiers were lost, MIA or served, but every one of the several I checked were, in fact, KIA.

There is way more material here worth presenting and I will do so as time moves on. I could probably write a dozen posts just from the material Peg and Ray sent me. Thanks again!

Next time on November 8th, we will return to Georgia and additional faces to honor, so join me there, as usual at 9:00 am. 

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, Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, Elli from Maryland, and Peg and Ray from Florida, 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 and/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.

I hope all those listed here will encourage you to send along photos and join the group.

Wisconsin XIX

Once more on this trip to Wisconsin I will share a couple more photos, from Joan, of the traveling memorial to those lost in 'Nam. 

These heroes during this month of Memorial Day should serve to remind us all of the sacrifices made by the few who serve their country and the , fewer still, to whom we owe the greatest debt. 

To whom we owe our freedom.

 

 

Next time, on the 27th, we will honor all who have made the ultimate sacrifice and to whose everlasting honor this site was created.

To see additional memorials from Wisconsin, or any other state, please click on a 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 Joan from Wisconsin, 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. Thanks, once again, to Joan.

Pennsylvania XXXV

I have posted from Bedford before and you can find that post elsewhere on this site. I returned because I learned that an addition was made to the existing memorial.

The addition is a tribute to Robert Hartsock. He was a dog handler who in an act of unimaginable courage and love threw himself on a satchel bomb to protect others. He survived the blast and lay down additional fire to protect his comrades. He died while still firing his weapon. His dog, Duke, died along side him.

 

 

This, alone is quite a story, but as I started reading up on him, it became even more interesting.

It seems West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania all claim he is a native son.. It does seem that he went to Everette High School near Bedford, at least according to the local newspaper. I have been unable to determine where he was actually born.

 

 

The statue sits in the Bedford Veterans Grove directly across from the courthouse, on Julianna Street, in Bedford.

 

 

One of the reasons it was placed where it was is that the town realized that many visitors walked up to the existing memorial and then walked on, they never looked at the back where many names are listed.

One of the more interesting features of the monument is the circular impressions on its base. Vietnam veterans from the area were asked to come and put their thumbprints in the design. I have never seen anything quite like this in a memorial before.

A film was made about Bob Hartsock called Forgotten Heroes: The Robert Hartsock Story (2019) - IMDb , that you can find several places on the internet, including obviously IMDb above.

Robert Hartsock was awarded the Medal of Honor, the only dog handler to ever receive the nation's highest military honor.

Next time, on the 1st of October, we will return to Virginia. Meet me there, as usual, at 9:00am.

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

Arizona XXIX

I want to show you just a few more pictures from my visit to The Wall That Heals when it was in Peoria, Arizona in 2019.

As you enter the area you are greeted by a huge American flag. Note the "cherry picker" at the upper right and the tech inside it.

The Wall travels with an exhibit trailer and these are just a couple of the things that jumped out at me.

 This photo of The Women's memorial captured a beautiful array of light.

 

 

These wristbands were worn by many Americans to honor those being held in captivity.

 

I couldn't get too many as the light was very bad and flash was prohibited

The In Memory plaque authorized in 2000 by the president honors those who died after the war was ended but due to their wounds, physical or otherwise. The original is placed near the statue of The Three Servicemen on the Mall in DC. Above is a replica.

 

I will be traveling later this month to see The Wall displayed on the eastern shore of Maryland, I'll post if there is any significant difference in what I see.

Next time, on the 21st, we will return to California, so meet 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.