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

 

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

 

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Rolling Thunder in D.C.

Willie Nelson was there! And there, and come to think of it, ..he was everywhere!

Or, at least, most of the riders looked like him: same age, hair, scarf, and gear. About half the motocyclists carried females on the backs of their bikes who waved and shot pictures of the bystanders, many of whom who cheered and waved back.

Many riders wore POW/MIA t-shirts to draw attention to forgotten soldiers.

Oh, what a glorious day it was! How could the weather, the temperature, the sky, have been any better?

One biker told me as many as 500,000 bikers , that's a half million, reader, were expected for the weekend. They came from all 50 states to commemorate the war dead, and it could be emotional, if you let your mind wander.

They rode fast and noisily up Constritution and around the mall to show their gratitude, sounding their horns and waving. From the south, the headlights came...non-stop.

As many as five flags streamed behind them, attached to their bikes, one, with ropes attached to the dash. Some of the flags were as large as billboards. Good thing the wind didn't blow the other way. Half a red Mustang and what looked like half a Hummer passed for motorcycles and were part of the parade.

Doesn't D.C. have a helmet law? Five riders or passengers, at least, were without helmets, including two children, riding with adults. Arms were uncovered. A Biker Mama told me a small accident could throw a passenger or a driver onto the pavement and rip off unprotected skin.

The scene on Constitution Avenue between17th and 15th had onlookers standing out in the street, unrestrained by police or fences (unlike between 17th and 18th), holding out their hands, hoping a biker or two would touch them. Unwary young teen males stood in one lane, their arms extended. Soon they were joined by adults wanting to pass the peace, and some riders slowed and did.

Looking up and down Constitution, north towards the museums and south towards the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the only visible traffic to be seen were rows and rows of hundreds of oncoming motorcycles, headlights flashing, moving north towards the museums, in the northbound lanes.

American flags on lampposts danced gaily in the wind: a modern-day scene reminiscent of Childe Hassam's flag paintings of New York City ("Fourth of July, 1916") which commemorates patriotism. where is our victory? Who are these supporting in the presidential race. They didn't strike me as Obama supporters, and I doubt many would support a woman, and even they, I hope, do not believe in a 100-years war, so who is their candidate? I hope they care and show their passion to end a war whose soldiers they honor are no more.

From the Rolling Thunder web site:

The major function of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is to publicize POW-MIA issues: To
educate the public that many American prisoners of war were left behind
after all previous wars and to help correct the past and to protect future
veterans from being left behind should they become prisoners of war-missing
in action. We are also committed to helping American veterans from all
wars.Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is a non-profit organization. Members donate
their time because they believe in the issues we are working on.