It's the Little Things

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.

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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.