September 11, 2011

September 11, 2001 will be burned into our collective memories with other momentous dates, such as November 22, and December 7th, for all time. I wanted to take a moment today and interrupt the Colorado series of Vietnam memorials to remember and honor our fallen brothers and sisters.

As you know, my journey is about Vietnam, but occasionally I run across a 911 memorial. I thought I would share a couple of them today in remembrance, mourning and respect.

The first picture is of one I have shared previously. It is called the Court of Honor and is located in Prospect Hill Cemetery in York, Pennsylvania. Its inscribed names honor many who have served and fallen, but the lintel across the top is an actual piece from the Twin Towers.

http://www.prospecthill.org/CourtOfValor.htm

The second picture is from the park in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. I wrote about the 'Nam memorial there earlier, but now is the fitting time to share this one. While not huge, it is indeed poignant. It can be found in the 9000 block of Dayton Pike.

The last couple of pictures are from Montgomery County, Maryland. On a corner in the middle of Rockville, the county seat, sits a beautiful and dignified memorial to those county residents who perished in the attack on the Pentagon. I sometimes think that in the magnitude of the events in New York and the heroics in Shanksville, Pa., those who lost their lives in the Pentagon attack are overshadowed. It was with great feeling that I discovered this tribute to our neighbors. Eleven of those lost at the Pentagon lived in my community and each of them is remembered here by a bench with his or her name etched upon it. In addition, a favorite saying, or passage from a book or poem along with a facsimile of their signature makes each of these personalized and intimate. The park is designed so that on September 11, each bench is illuminated by the sun as it passes over the site. On the day I visited, bouquets of roses had been left on each bench by family members or loved ones. It was a deeply moving display of love for our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors who were lost, but will never be forgotten.

William Edward Caswell
Dr. Gerald Paul Fisher
Capt. Lawrence D. Getzfred
Michele M. Heidenberger
Angela Marie Houtz
Teddington Hamm Moy
Lt. Darin H. Pontell
Scott A. Powell
Todd Hayes Reuben
Patricia J. Statz
Ernest M. Willcher

This dignified and beautiful tribute sits at the corner of Rte 28 and Maryland Ave. across from the court house

Colorado X

I have been following the development of the Western Slope Memorial, on line, for quite some time. I was determined to see it when I got to Colorado, so I was very excited as we pulled into the parking lot of the Visitors Center in Fruita (near Grand Junction).

The weather chose not to cooperate just as we arrived. We had very little time to visit and take pictures, but wind, rain and thunder and lightning not withstanding, it was worth it!

What a great place! This is another of those sites that is going to take at least two posts to do justice.

What began as a brothers tribute to his brother has developed into this magnificent tribute to all. It is a treasure and you should see it if you get an opportunity.

Two buddies joined up together. Two buddies gave their all! One was killed (1971) after 100's of flying missions and the other brought him home to Colorado and his family.

His brother thought for years about building a memorial to him and The Western Slope Vietnam Memorial is the culmination of that dream.

The site, however, as I said, is more than that. It honors anyone who served during the Vietnam Era, as it is called, in-country or out-Everyone! Anyone who qualifies can contact the site and arrange for their name, or the name of a loved one to be added to the black granite walls supporting the Huey.

Those who made the final sacrifice are honored under the American flag as shown in the final picture.

The walkways (fourth pic), called the Walk of Honor, are for anyone who would like to support the effort.

I have read that the site offers music and narration to visitors, but it was not working the day I was there.

The friend who brought his buddy home was killed a number of years later (1986) in a flying accident. Ironic!

To learn more, or honor a soldier, or donate to support the site, go here;

http://www.field-of-dreams.org/

To read more about the friend, go here;

http://www.field-of-dreams.org/MarshallDavis.html

Colorado IX

Driving through the beautiful Colorado mountains, we came to a place called Florence. Near the junction of Route 67 and Highway 50 is this great memorial.

Col. Boston was lost over North Vietnam, near Hanoi in April of 1966. This memorial was built to him and many others who answered when their country called and ultimately made the supreme sacrifice.

All American involvements are commemorated and honored here. 1316 heroes are honored here on the 2299 bricks that make up the wall. One expects that the remaining bricks will someday honor those now, or in the future, who serve the country.

The memorial is interesting because my first research said it was in Florence, the plaque on the site itself, says Canon City, but the address I found on line says 60298 Highway 50, Pemrose, Colorado. It is located on Highway 50 not far from the intersection with Route 67, near the Fremont County Airport.

To complete this story, today, I found a story telling of the recovery, identification and internment of Col. Boston. The joint POW/MIA Command with the aid of local Vietnamese citizens uncovered the remains of Col. Boston in 2000. but the technology to identify them did not exist at the time. Last April (2011), his remains were positively identified and he was buried with full military honors this past July (2011). He and his family can now rest in peace! It seems fitting somehow that I visited this spot in June and am writing these words in August (they will not post until September 2nd, however) Even though it took almost exactly 45 years to identify Col Boston, it gives hope that all of our brothers will eventually be returned to us and to their families.

You can read more about Col. Boston here;

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gazette/obituary.aspx?n=leo-s-boston&pid=152436899

Colorado VIII

While driving through Gunnison, we came across a Veteran's park and found this nice memorial. The boots, rifle and bayonet, helmet, and on some occasions, dog tags, known as a field cross, is dedicated specifically to Vietnam lost. The field cross is said to have been used first during the American Civil War as a means to identify fallen soldiers. Today, it has become more of an icon of respect for the lost

I spoke with several people from the town and finally hooked up with one of the people responsible for the memorial's placement. He explained that two men from Gunnison were lost in 'Nam. The town, which consists of about 5400 people wanted to do something to memorialize their lost neighbors and honor all who had served. So, collections were taken up and people donated from $1.00 to $1,000 and the memorial was created. I noted the footprints in front of the field cross and my contact said he assumed they were from someone saluting the cross. I wondered if they were from the boots of those who created the sacred remembrance to a fallen brother.

This is an American Legion Park and there are other memorials here, also. I found the eagles elsewhere in this nice city park.

The park is easily located on Highway 50 which runs right through Gunnison.

Next time I visit a memorial near Florence dedicated to a pilot whose remains were identified and interred 45 years after he was lost over Hanoi. Join me on September 2nd.

Colorado VII

Driving south from Colorado Springs and Pueblo we (if I haven't mentioned it earlier, my buddy Steve was on this trip with me) were forced off the road by the raging wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico. The road was closed at Trinidad which lies about 20 miles north of the border with New Mexico. As luck would have it, Trinidad, where we were forced off, was our destination, any further south and we would have been out of luck.

We met a fellow vet in town and he took us to the memorial which sits at the visitors center. He pointed out that the front of the memorial is dedicated to those who were lost and the reverse honors all who served. I always like it when a site can do that.

The third photo shows a dedication from the Vietnamese community at the base of the memorial. I have run across several of these in my travels. To me, they seem fitting, but I have met other vets (not in Trinidad) who do not think them appropriate. It saddens me that the pain goes on and is so deep for so many.

In addition, a smaller memorial was added after names that were left off the original were discovered. The sides have a number of additional names added and space for any additional names that may surface. The last photo is a close-up of the top of this second memorial.

I am often astonished at what some towns will do. In 1999 Trinidad had a population of under 10,000 and yet they had the desire and commitment to honor these heroes. It must not have been easy to accomplish this project and it does great honor to the town that they were determined to make this happen.

I did a little research on Trinidad and discovered that in the 1880's Bat Masterson was the sheriff! When I was a kid one of my favorite TV shows was Bat Masterson starring Gene Barry. Amazing what the mind retains!!

From here I move on to Gunnison and a nice site in a city park.

Colorado VI

Most of you know that I do not use anyone's name in my writing, but I make an exception today as I post these additional thoughts about these sites. I have received permission from all involved to use their names and, in this case, a photograph.

I received a nice email today from Tom Schomberg, the sculptor of the Denver memorial I wrote about a couple of posts back (see 7/29/11). He wanted me to be sure to give proper credit to Tom and Judy Kane, the folks who commissioned the memorials. He explained that Tom Kane had been a Marine pilot in 'Nam and that without his deep commitment and understanding of the needs of vets, the memorial might never have been placed. If he had never placed the one in Denver it is easy to see that the ones in Riverside National Cemetery in California and Adare Manor in Ireland would also have never been possible.

I have just recently exchanged a number of emails with Tom (Kane) and he sent me a lot of information about the dedication of the memorial in Ireland. As I mentioned in the previous post, the Schomberg memorial was to be placed in honor of the visit of the Traveling Wall to Ireland. A number of Irish citizens were lost fighting for the US in 'Nam. The families of the 16 known Irish casualties were invited to Adare Manor and 65 members from 12 of the families were able to attend. In addition, a number of Americans, including the Schombergs and Jan Scruggs (VVMF) were able to attend, too. Bertie Ahearn, the Taoiseach* (Irish Prime Minister) attended, gave the opening remarks and spent two full days with the families and visitors. So, it is with the utmost gratitude and respect that I salute Tom and Judy Kane for their commitment, generosity and, through these memorials, service to all vets.

The picture posted here is the first one I have ever posted that I did not take myself. It was taken by Tom Kane and is used with his permission. I will get to Ireland and photograph the memorial myself sometime in the not too distant future (I hope), but until that time I wanted you to see this magnificent site. I was actually at Adare in the mid 90's, before either memorial was placed. I was struck, at the time, by its elegant beauty and now the addition of this haunting tribute only adds to my love of this ancient (and now sacred) place.

Although he is adamant that the memorial be the focus of this effort, not Adare Manor, Tom and his wife, Judy, have refurbished the site and made it into a first class resort. It is located on many acres of beautiful Irish countryside and you can find more information here;

http://www.adaremanor.com/

In case I failed to mention it previously, Tom Schomberg is also the sculptor of the War Dog memorial at Fort Benning, Georgia, and Riverside, in addition to the "Rocky" statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

You can visit Tom's studio to see these and many other of his great works here;

http://www.schombergstudios.com/

* Taoiseach is Gaelic and is pronounced Teesha, at least that is as close as I can come!!

Colorado V

I could not find any official memorials in Denver. I did locate a POW memorial in the Capitol building which is the first shown here. It is located on the entrance floor in a corner. The last one was in Colorado Springs, so I decided to include them both at this time.

I think I have noted before that the POW flag was designed by the wife of a 'Nam POW, but has since become the icon for all POW/MIA's from any war. I read on a memorial in Alabama that there are 188,000 MIA's from all American involvements. I am not sure how these figures are determined or if they are even accurate, but whatever the number, it is huge. These, along with all of those killed, are in fact the costs of war, not the dollars, the machinery, not the national issues often stated as justification.