Showing posts with label Memorial Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Memorial Day. Show all posts

Friday, May 30, 2014

Memorial Day weekend at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

It was startling and gratifying on May 25, 2014 to see so many parents too young to remember the Vietnam War themselves bring their children to honor the 58,286 soldiers whose names appear on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial/By Patricia Leslie

Some brought art work, flags, clothing, plastic flowers in commemorative wrap, and mementos to leave at the memorial. A ranger for the National Park Service said all items are collected nightly except for Memorial Day weekend when items were left at the wall for visitors to see. Volunteers, including members of Rolling Thunder, help the single ranger gather the keepsakes, and non-perishables are stored in a warehouse. Some of them will be displayed at the memorial's new visitors center once funding is completed, and the center is built/By Patricia Leslie

The names of the war dead and those missing in action are etched in stone and appear chronologically beginning with 1959 on the far upper left where the wall points to the Lincoln Memorial and stretching to 1975 with the wall in the foreground pointing to the Washington Monument/By Patricia Leslie


This looks towards the Washington Monument (in the distance) and more current years and names.  The design by Maya Lin, then a Yale University undergraduate student, was intended to bring the past and present together with reflections on the wall.  Her creation was chosen in a blind competition which received 1,421 submissions.  The wall was completed in 1982 and was so controversial at the time, another memorial called "The Three Servicemen" (or "The Three Soldiers") was unveiled two years later, designed by the third-place finisher in the contest, Frederick Hart.  It and the Vietnam Women's Memorial designed by Glenna Goodacre and dedicated in 1993, stand nearby.  Ms. Goodacre, who also submitted in the original competition, had to change her women's winning design because of controversy/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, May 25, 2014/By Patricia Leslie


Nearby directories make it relatively easy to locate names of soldiers which may be copied identically with available paper/By Patricia Leslie 
 

Boots, medals, photos and biographies of the deceased and missing lined the wall on Memorial Day weekend/By Patricia Leslie



The park ranger said he thought more people than usual came to see the memorial last weekend.  Its stature grows with its increasing image as an American shrine, to match the respect and honor due all soldiers who protect and serve the United States. In a list compiled by the American Institute of Architects in 2007, Americans ranked the Vietnam Veterans Memorial tenth most favorite architecture/By Patricia Leslie

Honoring POW/MIA soldier, Ronald E. Smith/By Patricia Leslie
 

Poems by children were found at the wall.  This is the cover of a book which says "MILITARY We Will Fight For You.  A Collection of Poems by Jonathan Post, Troy, Ohio.  Navy!  Air Force!  Marines!  Army!"/By Patricia Leslie

Jonathan devoted a page to his mother which says "I dedicate this poetry anthology to my mom because she has helped me with some of the poems in this book and had the paitience it took to sit there and help."/By Patricia Leslie
 

A statement and artwork by a student says "The Vietnam War was the most hated war that the U.S. faught (sic) and, when the soliders  came home they were treated very badly."  On the right of the page is a drawing of a female in a short skirt who calls out "Boo!!!" and "You stink!!!" That these young children are educated about the war and its futility was welcoming.  A local Vietnam vet told me this week he has only visited the memorial once, and no more because of the pain.  Another one said he was never able to go and see it.  "Why?  Why?" John cried. "What was the purpose? All a waste!  All for egos!"/By Patricia Leslie

A floral tribute at the memorial which says "Rolling Thunder Never Forget Our Brothers and Sisters"/By Patricia Leslie

A wooden wreath with soldiers' dog tags at the memorial/By Patricia Leslie
 

Some of the wreaths at dusk at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, May 25, 2014/By Patricia Leslie
When it got too dark to see, the people took out their telephones and used the lights to illuminate names of those not forgotten. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is open all day and night/By Patricia Leslie
 

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Rolling Thunder pictures, Washington, D.C. 2013 Memorial Day weekend

Rolling Thunder bikers roar down  Constitution Avenue and other Washington streets on May 26, 2013.  It was the 26th year members have come to honor fallen American troops/Patricia Leslie

Thousands of Rolling Thunder bikers came once again from around the U.S. to Washington this Memorial Day weekend to pay tribute to fallen American troops, and the citizens are grateful for their attention and devotion to those who protect us.

Rolling Thunder began its annual trip to Washington in 1988 to recognize Vietnam War veterans who had been forgotten.

From the Rolling Thunder website: 

 
Rolling Thunder’s mission is to educate, facilitate, and never forget by means of a demonstration for service members that were abandoned after the Vietnam War. Rolling Thunder has also evolved into a display of patriotism and respect for all who defend our country. 
 
 As of May 22, 2013, American military casualties total 4,488 deaths from the Iraq War, and 2,220 American military members have died as a result of American participation in the war in Afghanistan.
 
Rolling Thunder on Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., May 26, 2013/Patricia Leslie

Rolling Thunder on Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., May 26, 2013/Patricia Leslie
 
 Rolling Thunder, May 26, 2013, Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie
Rolling Thunder, May 26, 2013, Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. Can you hear them roar?/Patricia Leslie

More single women were seen this year on bikes than in years past in the Rolling Thunder parade to honor fallen American troops/Patricia Leslie
 
 
Onlookers at the Rolling Thunder rally May 26, 2013, Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie

Rolling Thunder, May 26, 2013, Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie
 
 
Rolling Thunder, May 26, 2013, Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie

 Rolling Thunder, May 26, 2013, Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie
Rolling Thunder, May 26, 2013, Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie
Rolling Thunder, May 26, 2013, Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie

 Rolling Thunder, May 26, 2013, Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie
Rolling Thunder, May 26, 2013, Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie
When the parade slowed, the girl in white stepped out in the street to high-five with bikers/Patricia Leslie

Rolling Thunder, May 26, 2013, Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie

Rolling Thunder, May 26, 2013, Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie
Attention!  Is that a helmet-less biker in the distance?/Patricia Leslie 
 Rolling Thunder, May 26, 2013, Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie
There they go, down Constitution Avenue towards the Capitol on May 26, 2013/Patricia Leslie

On the way home on Route 66/Patricia Leslie