I thought I’d share a couple of photographs that would be appropriate for today. I took these during a visit to the National Mall in Washington DC in July 2012.
If there’s one thing I can say about our American neighbours is that they really do national monuments well.
At one end of the mall as you head towards the Lincoln Memorial you’ll find the war memorials. The World War II Memorial takes up quite a bit of real estate and though it is impressive, the two that resonated most with me were the Korean and Vietnam Memorials.
The Korean War Memorial has a haunting beauty to it that I wasn’t expecting – it left me searching for words.
The Vietnam War Memorial is downright heartbreaking. It goes on forever and there are so many names of the fallen or lost etched into it, that once you wrap your head around the concept that each of those names is a real person; someone’s son or daughter, brother or sister, father or mother, who is no longer with us and will never be coming back, well for me it was impossible to not break down.
This photo still puts a lump in my throat every time I look at it.
Today of all days wherever you may be please remember to take a moment to pay your respects and if the opportunity arises, thank a veteran for their service.
Thank you for looking 🙂
Important Post Script: All this week Lisa over at Black Panty Salvation is doing a series of profiles on U.S. veterans. For those who have not read her blog yet, I encourage you to head on over and have a peek. She is a talented writer who has put together some insightful looks into the very personal stories of those who chose to serve.
Click on this link to get started with yesterday’s feature about her friend Debbie: We Poured Our Heart and Soul Into that Country
Lovely post Norm, and thanks for the link to Lisa’s blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jean and welcome!
Yes Lisa wrote some really good profiles last week 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your reaction to the Vietnam Memorial is similar to mine when I first saw the Menin Gate. You know that the numbers of men who were lost is huge but somehow, seeing their names so tightly packed on such a vast memorial, brings it home in a way that nothing else does. An overwhelming feeling ….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it leaves one with an overwhelming feeling of emptiness and loss. Thanks so much for stopping in and sharing 🙂
LikeLike
I agree with both of your sentiments, the Vietnam memorial is indeed striking, it helps you to imagine what it would have been like, however the other is just depressing isn’t it. The worst part for me is that names are still being listed under the ‘fallen heroes’ title 😦
Great post and really pleased to have connected 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here. Thanks so much for the follow and for your kind words 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have not yet been to DC but I definitely plan on it. In addition to the memorials you captured here, I would love to see the Holocaust museum, even though I know I’ll be a wreck after.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You won’t regret the trip. I haven’t seen the Holocaust museum yet either. We only spent 2 1/2 days so we didn’t get to see nearly everything we wanted. Only saw about 1/2 the Smithsonian museums. A good reason to go back though…
LikeLike
That first image is just breathtaking, Norm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. That memorial is an impressvie piece of art.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My great grandfather on my mums side fought for the U.S. Marines during WW1 and my grandfather on my dads side was with the Queens Own Rifles of Canada during WW2. As for me..I’m a Panama,First Gulf war vet. Great write up and I have my poppy..:-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to hear it! Thanks for the kind words and most of all Ed, Thank you for your service 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, we do monuments well, and they do take your breath away. I just wish we could show more reverence on these special days and not make it just about what’s on sale. I guess it gives us something as a nation to work on.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree 100% but that’s not unique to your country, we all have work to do on that front.
LikeLike
Thank you Norm 2.0. You’re not so grumpy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just Norm is fine and you’re very welcome.
Some days I’m grumpier than others 😉
LikeLike