September 11th, 2021

Twenty years ago today the unimaginable happened. The United States, the leader of the free world, the most powerful nation perhaps ever was stunned, attacked and, briefly at least caught unaware.

Every year I write something and feature a memorial from somewhere. Did you know that every state in the Union has at least one memorial to those lost on that fateful day? I have not seen them all by any shot and some of the ones I have seen I have posted here over the years. They are frequently magnificent, sometimes simple, and always very emotional.

I just read this past Tuesday about a memorial to the seven Irish lost and also to honor first responders, that was built in Waterford, Ireland. It features a section of girder from the World Trade Center. Waterford is considered Ireland's first city.

While visiting Arizona not so long ago I saw two. One is in Wesley Bolin Park across from the Capitol, in the same park the State Vietnam Memorial is located. It is spectacular and you should go see it.

 

 

If you do, drive a couple of hours south to Tucson and there by itself with no fanfare, not even a sign, is this one.

 

Often referred to, incorrectly, as the Avatar memorial due to the Spielberg movie of the same name, it was actually in place a number of years before that movie was released.

 

 

Eight high school students and Tucson artist David Campbell spent part of the summer of 2002 creating and installing a blue angel hoisting a globe overhead -- a tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The figure emerges from rubble, and a slab is labeled "Together We Rise."

 

So, today 20 years later we are older, if not wiser, and we would do well to remember those lost as it seems every state as done in some way. 

 

I didn't personally know anyone lost on that day but 11 of my neighbors from my area were lost at the Pentagon and I have posted previously about the magnificent memorial we have here.

 

The sadness in the angels eyes reflects I think the sadness we must all remember and feel on this 20th anniversary of this tremendous loss.

 

R.I.P.

 

Next time, on the 16th, we will revisit Delaware, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

 

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

Colorado XXXII

We have visited Thornton before and you can find that post elsewhere on the site. Today, however, we visit the Thornton Veterans Aquatic Center adjacent to the memorial.

 

 

Inside is their Veterans Memorial dedicated to all from the Adams (County) 12 Five Star Schools. 

 

 

 

While it honors all, four of the five listed here are all casualties of Vietnam.

 

 

 

Vietnam Veterans of America always has said that "Never again would one generation of veterans leave another behind," so in that spirit I will include the only other name listed on this memorial. He deserves the remembrance and respect of us all, especially in light of all that is happening today.

I had a fellow walk up to me one day and ask when I was going to start photographing memorials to the more recent wars. He was clearly a vet and I said, "Well. perhaps that is your job!" Today, however, I feel perfectly comfortable including this brave young man here.

The larger memorial outside and the Aquatic Center are located at 5310 E.136th Avenue.

Next time, on the 11th, I will, as I always do, post something about 9/11. So, join me then to see this year's post at 9:03am.

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

California XXXVI

Moorpark Veterans Memorial is located about 12 miles ENE of Camarillo, California.

The memorial itself lists no names but displays the badges of the services.

 

 

 

But, along side the walkway are three stones.

The first of these is a general dedication stone telling the story of the efforts to place a memorial.

The second lists the name of a number of those lost to various wars. While no particular war is listed, I checked and at least some of these, our comrades, were lost in 'Nam.

 

 

The text, hard to see here, reads:

 

"Our Fathers, Brothers, Sons, Friends And Comrades In arms Who Have Gone Before Us. We Live As Free Citizens In A World Made Better

By These Men Who Did Not Faulter (sic) In the Face Of death.

We Salute You"

 

 

The third and final stone tells a somber story, although it is as any one of us might, sadly, have predicted.

 

 

I actually visited here some years ago, I wonder how many more names have been added to the stone that was to have been forever blank?

 

The memorial may be found at the intersection of Spring Road and Finn Avenue.

Next time, on the 7th, we will return to Colorado, so meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

West Virginia XII

This memorial surely qualities as America's newest. It is so new that it will not even be dedicated until September 18th. (at 2pm should you be in the area)

I have been in contact with the folks behind it for at least a couple of years and recently they informed me of the upcoming ceremony. I hope to be there.

However, I was in the Berkeley Springs area a week or two back and decided to check it out before the crowds show up.

It sits on a median strip to the right of the Morgan County Courthouse with other war memorials.

On the from panel are listed the seven who perished along with those who served.

On the left side of the memorial are listed those who served during the Vietnam Era.

 

On the right side are listed those who moved to Morgan County after serving.

On the obverse is a poem by Mr. Hampe. The Hampes were instrumental in getting the memorial built, a project of nearly ten years.

Next time, on the 2nd of September, we will return to California, so meet me there at 9:00am.

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

Virginia XXIII

It is always a point of interest for me to see just what places do to honor their war dead. I have commented many time, here, about being just blown away by what some small towns do in this area.

Fairfax Virginia is legendary for its role in the founding of our Nation. Mount Vernon and Gadsby's Tavern, just to name two, are located here among literally dozens if not hundreds of other significant sites.

I visited the historic Fairfax County Courthouse to see the memorial to those lost in 'Nam.

One of several plaques, those who lost their lives in Vietnam are remembered here.

The count as best as I can see is 106.

 

 

It nice that even though this memorial is small that they got the years pretty close. As I have commented repeatedly here the first soldier was killed in 1956, but many places start their count with the year their first citizen was lost.

 

Next time, on the 28th, we will visit a memorial , brand new in fact, in West Virginia. So, meet me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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

Pennsylvania XXXIV

Memorialized forever at the Luzerne County Courthouse are the 11,000 from the county who served and the 85 who perished or are MIA.

 The memorial is in Wilkes-Barre on the beautiful courthouse grounds. 

 

 

Called "the Valiant Veteran, here is the information from the dedication plaque on the base of the statue:

"This Monument of the Vietnam War Memorial for Luzerne County is a depiction of a heavy gauge bronze sculpture with a natural sulfide bronehantite patina set atop a slate base. The base is 10' long, 6' 10" wide, 2' high. The sculpture atop measures 10' high, for a total of 12' from the ground. The figure of the valiant veteran is 8' 5" tall from toe to head, or 1.43 times life size.
The warrior, wearing combat fatigue pants and boots holds a broken K-Bar Knife and stands atop the shield - the Keystone of Pennsylvania, an allegory to the return of the spartan soldier to the intonation "with it or on it." In the figure's left hand is a crown of stars symbolizing the branches of the Armed Services taken from the brow - his head turned in grief.
Behind the figure stands the symbols of Vietnam, which is pierced by pungee sticks, a barbaric guerrilla warfare weapon utilized in Southeast Asia. There is one spear for each 3 years of our involvement in this war. These symbolize the enslavement of Vietnam in the Bamboo Curtain of Communism, the misery of this country at its loss of liberty,
our sons and brothers whose blood was spilled on her soil, the Prisoners of War and the Missing In Action, the imprisoned and those who have never returned. The spaces between the pungee sticks symbolize the IV Corps of Action in Vietnam.
The slate base is set at 17 degrees to the ground, the parallel of the latitude of the partition between North and South Vietnam on our entrance to the war. Upon the base of this monumental sculpture are the names of our native sons who gave their lives in the Action. 

Gerhard Francis Baut, B.F.A.
Am di Venezia

Dedicated February 21st, 1988" 

The names of the 85 lost are inscribed upon the base.

 

 

The stars and the ends of the pungee stakes are seen here.

Some photographs of the lost.

This somewhat unusual depiction of the service and sacrifice of those who served is not without some controversy. I have read unflattering and ignorant remarks about the style, but to each his own, I guess. I think it is quite striking and well worth a moment of your time should you find your self in Wilkes-Barre.

Next time, on the 23rd, we will return to Virginia, so join me there at 9:00am.

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

Maryland XXXI

Ocean Pines as mentioned in a recent post is a community adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean resort town of Ocean City, Maryland.

While there to visit The Wall That Heals recently, I was happy to discover that the Worcester County Veterans Memorial was on the same site.

Dedicated to many, it of course honors those from the county who served in or were lost in Vietnam.

The flags, not counting the POW/MIA flag, were new to me and I was glad to find this explanation posted nearby.

 

 

One of the several placards speaks to the service and sacrifice of those who served in 'Nam.

 

Another nice touch is the inclusion of the POW/MIA chair.

 

The text in the photo is a bit hard to read. It says:

 

"Since World War II more than 82,000

American soldiers are unaccounted for.

This unoccupied seat is dedicated to

the memory of these brave men 

and women and to the sacrifices each 

made in serving our country.

God Bless You  God Bless America"

Similar chairs are found throughout the nation.

Next time, on the 18th, we will return to Pennsylvania, so join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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