In war, there are no unwounded soldiers. ~José Narosky

My earliest association, or memory of an association with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) was a bracelet my mother wore. I'm sure she still has it somewhere. It is red, it has a name engraved on it. It is in rememberance of a POW-MIA of the Vietnam War. The name on that bracelet was that of Sergeant Harry B. Coen: He was 30 years young when he died hundreds of thousands of miles away from home, from loved ones, from familiarity. His body still has not been recovered. Here are the stats as taken from http://thewall-usa.com/: SFC-E7-Army-Regular 1st Infantry Division Born on Wednesday, September 22, 1948 From RIVERTON, WY His tour began on May 12, 1968 Casualty was on Oct 10, 1978 In QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM Hostile, died while missing, GROUND CASUALTY Body was not recovered Panel 58E - Line 32

Did you know that "the Three Servicemen statue is the result of the controversy surrounding Maya Ying Lin's design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Some veterans and their political supporters felt that The Wall was "a black gash of shame" or a "giant tombstone." It was too abstract a design for others who wanted a more heroic, life-like depiction of a soldier." -WMF

Either way, it is a beautiful addition and very complimentary. The statue is of three servicemen dressed in Vietnam era uniforms and are identifiable as Caucasian, African American and Hispanic. To read more see this link.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund was established in 1979 and wanted the veterans from the war to have a "tangible symbol of recognition from the American people." In 1981 the Memorial Fund announced a competition to determine what the memorial would look like. There were 1,421 designs entered and then judged by eight internationally recognized artisists and designers. They had determined that Maya Ying Lin who was a 21-year-old Yale student. What you see in the following pictures is her design come to life. (above info from WMF)

Below is Harry's name. There are symbols that follow each name that denote whether that individual was confirmed dead or remain missing. The diamond symbol seen before his name "denotes a servicemember's death was confirmed. Those whose names are designated by the cross symbol were in missing or prisoner status at the end of the war and remain missing and unaccounted for. In the event a serviceman's remains are returned or he is otherwise accounted for, the diamond symbol is superimposed over the cross." -WMF

Harry's name has a cross after it. He, as so many others, remains missing.

For so many years the effort of women during the war remained unrecognized. In 1984 the Vietnam Women's Memorial Project was founded. The statue that was dedicated was the first memorial to honor women's patriotic service dedicated in the nations capitol and was designed by Glenna Goodacre. A very moving tribute to a group that was so integral to the war effort.

It is said that each of the woman symbolizes something;

~the figure tending the wounded soldier: "charity"

~the figure looking up: "hope"

The figure kneeling: "faith"

Since those earliest memories of a bracelet I have seen the replicated traveling version of The Wall 4 times; twice in Casper, once in Sheridan WY and once in Portland. It is a moving tribute. I can now say I have seen the original Wall and have seen Harry's name engraved in the polished black granite of such an amazing memorial, in addition to the engraved bracelet. It was all the more touching after being so familiar with his name from early in my life.

"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind."
Major Michael Davis O'Donnell1 January 1970Dak To, VietnamListed as KIA February 7, 1978

"Four score...

...and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."--Abraham Lincoln November 19, 1863 during the Gettysburg Address

Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and was the first Republican president. He served during the time that the country was divided and is best known for proclaiming slaves of the Confederate states as free people if the state did not return to the Union by January 1, 1863. This later led to the 13th Amendment that makes slavery illegal. President Lincoln was also the first president assassinated.

************

After spending time at the WWII Memorial I started walking in the direction of the Lincoln Memorial. It was an amazing thing to see. I, along with so many others have seen pictures of the memorial but you can't really grasp the size and magnitude of it until you see it yourself. Walking to it I could tell that there were lots of people. The steps of the memorial were buzzing with activity.

I am getting lots of practice in of taking pictures of myself with things in the background. Thank goodness for digital cameras and the delete button. :)

The above picture is of the exact spot that Martin Luther King, Jr gave his "I have a dream" speech. It was amazing to look out and see what he saw that day during that now famous speech.

The above picture was what I saw from the spot MLK stood the day of his speech. The picture below is of a history teach showing one of his students a picture of what MLK saw the day he gave that speech. Pretty much amazing.

Lincoln in all of his glory....

Daniel Chester French was the sculptor and the Piccirilli Brothers of New York carved the statue of Lincoln from 28 blocks of Georgia marble. It took a year for the six brothers to complete the work. The memorial is made from several different kinds of rock from all over the country. "The terrace walls and lower steps comprise granite blocks from Massachusetts - the upper steps, outside façade, and columns contain marble blocks from Colorado - the interior walls and columns are Indiana limestone - the floor is pink Tennessee marble - the ceiling tiles are Alabama marble – and the Lincoln statue comprises 28 pieces of Georgia marble." NPS

While I was at the memorial all these body guards came in and were surrounding the two people you see in the center of the below picture. I didn't recognice them, but obviously they were important. I took a few pictures and asked Josh that night who they were. The male is Wale, a DC area rapper. They were there for like 2 seconds and then gone as quickly as they came.

One of Lincoln's most famous speeches carved into the South side of the interior of the chamber.

As I sit at the feet of President Lincoln's statue I recall a reading that our Chaplain at work read:

Years ago there was a PBS special in which Daniel Boorstin, then the Librarian of Congress, brought out a little blue box that contained the contents of Abraham Lincoln’s pockets on the night he was assassinated. In his pocket were two pairs of glasses, a pocket knife, a linen handkerchief (embroidered “A. Lincoln”), a brown billfold containing a $5 Confederate note and nine newspaper clippings.

“The clippings,” said Boorstin, “were concerned with the great deeds of Abraham Lincoln. And one of them actually reports a speech by John Bright which says that Abraham Lincoln is “one of the greatest men of all times.”

Today that’s common knowledge. The world now knows that British statesman John Bright was right in his assessment of Lincoln, but in 1865 millions shared quite a contrary opinion. The President’s critics were fierce and many. His was a lonely agony that reflected the suffering and turmoil of his country ripped to shreds by hatred and a cruel, costly war. There is something touchingly pathetic in the mental picture of this great leader seeking solace and self-assurance from a few old newspaper clippings as he reads them under the flickering flame of a candle all alone in the Oval Office.

The truth is that Abraham Lincoln needed encouragement like anyone else.

--Charles Swindoll

"Today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has ended....

...A great victory has been won. The skies no longer rain death - The seas bear only commerce - Men everywhere walk upright in the sunlight. The entire world is quietly at peace.
~General Douglas MacArthur

After stopping by the White House I debated about which way to head. I decided to head toward the Washington Monument. It was beautiful. I knew we'd be going up in it Saturday, but still took lots of pictures. I will include those in the post for that day. From there I headed to the National WWII Memorial. I remember when it was being built and the fundraising that was going on to support its completion. I'd never seen it, besides in pictures and renderings. I was so glad to be able to see it with my own eyes. It is a beautiful tribute to the men and women who gave their lives for and served this nation during that war. While I was there I wrote this:

Here I sit in the misty spray produced by the wind blowing water from the fountain at the WWII Memorial. This place is a silence inducing, awe-inspiring place of respect, peace and tranquility. I came here to see, to respect. I came here to see. I came here because my grandfather could not. As I sit here basking in the sun, living my privileged life I recall stories of sleeping in hammocks on ships in the middle
of who knows where, heading for God knows what. I don’t recall many stories that
Grandpa told about the war. He kept the scary ones to himself, in his nightmares, crammed in the back of his mind. That makes me sad, but that is what he thought he needed to do. I don't know if he talked to anyone in my family about many of his experiences. He would approve of this place. He would appreciate it. He would spend a long time here in silence I imagine. Remembering those experiences, healing a bit from those memories. For him I will spend that time here.

There are amazing numbers of people mulling around. I overhear a mother explain to her probably 4 or 5 year old daughter that this is a memorial. “What is a memorial mom?” “Honey, it’s a place of respect, memory and hope.” Yes, it is all of those and may today’s generations understand that; through questions, experiences and responses like the one I overheard. May this not just be a pretty fountain, a glorious place to sit in the sun. May it symbolize the memory of those who served, respect them and spread hope to all who visit this sacred space.

What a beautiful day for a beautiful place.

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

That is one of the most famous addresses in the world, and I found myself standing there today. Yes, it is the addresses of the residence and office of the President of the United States. The White House. I didn't go into the buidling, no, not this trip. But I still found it facinating. After seeing it in movies, pictures, press conferences, etc I was able to see it with my own two eyes. And, there is more...

My first DC experience besides walking to the Metro and riding it into DC was when I was walking along mostly minding my own business. All of I sudden I turned a corner and there were massive people standing on corners down the block. Police were everywhere. I figured something major was going on. Little did I know that I was only a block away from the White House.

Turns out that President Obama was on his way home. After planning on not seeing the President and talking some of my participants at work out of trying to convince me to see him I was going to. Shortly his motorcade made it down the street, quite briskly, I might add and they pulled into the driveway. There were probably 30 vehicles. All black. All dark windows. All cruising along. Obama rolled his window down and waved at the crowd. Then it was over as quickly as I stumbled upon it.

President Obama's motorcade

Front of the White House.

Me with White House behind me.

There were TONS of people. The weather was beautiful!

My first morning on vacation

I spent my first morning at my vacation destination chatting with Josh early in the morning for me. We got up at 7am (4am Portland time) after not going to bed until 1:30 or 2 am. Yikes. Shortly, Josh went off to work. He is on the 12th floor of his building. Butters (the cat) and I stood at the window to wave goodbye as he was getting to the truck.
Because of the floor Josh is on he has a great view. Below you can see the view. In the forefront you can see the Washington DC Mormon Temple. Behind that and to the left is Rockville, MD.

I have a feeling I will love sitting in his apartment in the mornings and looking out and then in the evenings when the Temple is lit up.

"The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land." ~Gilbert K Chestert

I have arrived. Woohoo!

I am safe and sound in DC. Well, to be more exact, Silver Spring, Maryland! I'm glad that I wasn't the one driving from Baltimore to Silver Spring. It must be better in the daylight, right?!

Anywho, I wasn't planning on doing many hand written journal entries, but felt so inclined while in the air between SLC and BWI today. Here it is:

March 30, 2010 1 hour outside of SLC by air.

Flying is such an odd thing. I'm not talking odd in the respect that I am one of those people of the mindset that we weren't made to fly, therefore we weren't meant to fly. No, I'm talking odd in the respect that there are very few instances that I personally would choose to put myself willingly in a situation where I am surrounded by strangers and stand in line after line like a cow and am quite literally hearded- through the line to check-in, to the x-ray machine-where by the way- I leave all my belongings that I can fit into a space half the size of my bathtub; to be handled and thrown around by strangers-sometimes gone through with a fine tooth comb, only to be alerted to this by a kind, but required piece of paper once I've reached my destination.

Then I head for the security line, all the while checking monitors on my way for the right gate to proceed to. In this line we weave back and forth through the roped maze only to come out on the other side greeted by an unhappy TSA agent in a blue shirt with a blue flashlight verifying our "persons."

Let's see. For fun we will play eenie-meenie for which of the slow moving lines to get into next. After picking one it is time to start undressing- yes you read that correctly. Shoes off, jackets/bulky sweaters off, belts, jewelry. If you have it on, it must come off, unless you want to make repeat trips through the metal detector or want that oh-so-lovely pat down. It might just be easier to come to the airport in a bathrobe and dress for the day after this security line experience.

After making a few quick "browsing" stops I make it to my gate. Remarkably only about 45 minutes after being dropped off at the curb. Thank goodness.

I sit for a few minutes and am surrounded by people talking on cell phones thinking they are the only ones on the planet and talking so loudly that everyone knows their business. That they are tired of traveling with mother, that daughters wedding was just beautiful "they know how to throw a wedding here."

Then we stand in line to be hearded onto the plane. Since I have the luxury of flying Southwest, I have no assigned seat, only a letter and since the last time I flew this quirky airline, a number A 43- I checked in online almost 24 hours prior to my flight. Since I am in the 1st group and 43rd position I gather with all those similar to me. We make our way onto the plane where it is a free-for-all in picking seats. I look for one next to the window and over the wing-my preference. I am successful. I get settled in for the flight.

Upon arrival at SLC I deboard into an unfamiliar world, which is unusual because I have frequented this airport, been stuck in this airport. I wander around and find familiar grounds for me all the while trying to convince myself that I should spend $5 on 3oz of fruit or $9 on an outrageously small salad. I opt not too as I'm not hungry. I should have worked harder at convincing myself I was hungry-mind you, it was 12 noon in the time zone I woke up in and all I'd eaten since 6am was yogurt.

I make my way back to the unfamiliar where it feels like an oven and there is another heard. We line up in groups and by number again. I score another over the wing-window seat and settle in for the longest stretch of the trip. I look around at the barf bags, the safety cards, the Sky Mall magazine- all staples in the seat back pockets of any flight you take. The Sky Mall magazine contains some of the most random things a person could buy and I ask myself why? Why would someone spend $200, well $199.95 plus shipping and handling on a uCrown Head Massager that in all actuality looks like a conduit for aliens to zap out all the knowledge we earthly beings have acquired? Really? Like I have nothing better to spend $200+ on. Granted, there are some smart things-let me see if I can find one...okay, here it is- for only $69.95 + S & H you can have your very own Ultrasonic Barking Dog Deterrent, shaped like a bird house-because that won't confuse anyone or anything. Also, for the spy in you the Video Recording Sunglasses going for $199.95 + S & H might be the best bet.

By now my stomach is growling- peanuts don't cut it and I should have spent a small, but smart fortune on that fruit or salad- I've still got 2 hours to go. Then I will be hearded off the plane, will follow the crowds and find my way to baggage claim to retrieve my hastely sorted through belongings, assuming they made it across the country and then I will be united with my brother, the main reason I came on this crazy adventure! I'm glad I LOVE to travel and LOVE to fly-or this really could be misery.

Happy travels!

Sunset from the air, just east of Chicago.

When we finally made it to Josh's apartment I was greeted by Butters, my feline nephew. He thoroughly check my person and my belongings out.

Of course, I had to bring him some toys. He loves these fleece strings.

I HAVE ARRIVED! Happy vacation to me!

72 hours

And yes, the countdown has begun. In hours. It's more fun than days. DC here I come!

Now, on to all the stuff I need to get done before I can leave...wish me luck!

Does America Have Talent?

I'm not a big reality show television watcher. That includes shows like American Idol, The Bachelor, and America's Got Talent. So when Megan asked me if I'd like to go to a taping for America's Got Talent which was happening here in Portland I thought, "that could be fun, even though it isn't in my norm" and agreed to go. There was a group of four of us from work who headed downtown for the evening. There were four tapings in two days. We went to the final taping. There was a strict policy of clothing and shoes that could be worn and things you couldn't take in (cameras and cell phones primarily).

When we got downtown and got parked we headed to the theater and stood in line. It moved rather quickly. Julie hadn't brought anything with her. Smart woman. Joanna, Megan and I had brought our cell phones. Megan had run back to the car to put hers back. Joanna and I thought we'd stealthly hide them. Then when we got to the door they were collecting electronics. I crossed my fingers that they wouldn't discover my phone as they were "wanding" me with one of those wands they use at airports and such. We made it in and settled in for quite a few hours of both good and bad acts.

Things I learned this evening:
~Even if the ticket information states that you have to wear black or dark colors and flat black shoes and you don't, they will probably still let you in.
~If it says no cell phones or cameras, they mean it.
~If you still brought your phone you can indeed discreetly hide it; in bras and in shoes works well. And a good place to use it (for texting) is in the bathroom stall.
~You've got to have a lot of energy for cheering.
~They really do film all the scenes in odd sequences, like the opening of the show half way through the night.
~It isn't a good idea to have 20 Chihuahua's on stage.
~You should count, for fun, how many times you stand up and sit down. I felt like I was sitting/standing through a Catholic or Lutheran church service. Up and down and up and down. And up and down some more.

I really enjoyed the evening out and the experience of watching a show being filmed for television. Even though I don't generally watch reality shows, I will be watching America's Got Talent this season, since I was in the audience and all.

(hulu.com)

"I will not squander March on May, or throw away April in search of June." ~Jo

That comes from a friend and I love her words. Here is the segment in its entirety:

"I will stop. I will be still. I will be
here. And for goodness sake, I will stop fluttering around like it even matters
where I will be next year. Tomorrow has enough trouble, enough boxes, enough
square footage of its own.

I will not squander March on May, or throw away April in search of June. No.
No. No."

I should have read these words last week. Maybe. Then I might have been in a better mood. You see, last week, I was in a bad mood. Really. A very bad mood. You may ask why? It won't do much good. I asked all week. I never got an answer. I woke up Monday morning in a rotten mood. It persisted. All. Week. Long. It was miserable. I was short. I was tired. I was not someone that most people wanted to interact with. I made a comment one day and someone said, "tell us how you really feel." That was the problem. I was. And I wasn't censoring ANYTHING I said. Not that I usually have a problem with having to watch what I say. But when I am in a bad mood I think things that I wouldn't normally and therefore at times say things I shouldn't and wouldn't under normal circumstances. It is better in those instances that I just not talk. It was a long week. I was wishing for it to be over.

As I read the above passage I can't help but think that so often I wish my life away. I often wish that Monday would be Friday or that this month would be over, this event done. My wishing away is not always for a bad reason, like wishing for a sickness to pass or a bad mood to pass or a bad week to end more quickly. Many times I am wishing away time in anticipation of a good thing coming up...the holidays, a special event, a vacation. Nevertheless, I am wishing away my moments, my time.

Last week I was wishing away my bad mood, this week I am wishing away the time in anticipation of a vacation that I've been looking forward to for nearly a year. I wonder: If I wish away my time in anticipation of vacation will my vacation time speed along as quickly as I wish this time before it would pass? Unfortunately, I imagine that that will indeed be the case. My punishment for not enjoying the morning sun and evenings with friends more before the trip? For constantly rushing around trying to tie up loose ends? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe that is just how life goes. I remember as a young girl people always saying that time moves faster the older you get. Sadly, it does. And it is only, inevitably, going to move faster and faster. This morning I said: "two weeks from today I will be waking up on the other side of the country." This evening I thought: three weeks from today I will be waking up back on this side of the country. Goodness, let that week of time away take longer than last week felt.