I know that Veteran's Day was officially this past Sunday, and I spent a good portion of my day NOT watching football, but immersing myself in documentaries and war movies. If you don't check out ANY other link, you MUST click on Band of Bloggers. I found this on the History Channel, and was completely entranced. Bloggers, on the front lines, telling their daily stories...it is mesmerizing.
Had it not been for Fun Monday, I would have posted this earlier. However, it is just as good today, since we should be reminded EVERY day of the sacrifices made by our fellow Americans and their brothers in arms.
I am grateful that my daughter and I were able to travel to Washington D.C. this past spring. She was with an intense leadership program, while I was able to toodle around as I pleased. We were both struck, in ways that are difficult to describe, by the Korean War Memorial, shown above.
My favorite war movie is Saving Private Ryan. If you haven't seen it - you must, but be prepared for graphic imagery.My husband was a Navy Corpsman during the Vietnam era - and though he never set foot on Vietnam soil, he saw the devastation of the war wounded, up close. Amber and I both took special note of the Vietnam Nurses Memorial, pictured below. For a look at the operations of a Baghdad medical team, check out CNN's Combat Hospital.
Roger likes The Military Channel, which I usually avoid. But I was captivated and teary-eyed during "War Wounds" - stories of men and women who have returned from Iraq, still fighting personal battles.
I didn't expect anything to happen emotionally while I took the "memorial tour" of D.C. Besides sobbing during the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, I was touched by this:
Nothing prepared me for more than 58,000 names etched in granite. My reaction was immediate, heart-wrenching grief for those souls and those who loved them. I promise to never forget.
18 comments:
I have no words. Thank you.
Beautiful post! My Grandpa served in WWII and in the Korean war. It has been a long time since I have been to DC. I would love to go again and see all of the new things that have been built. Thank you for sharing.
I loved the war memorials in DC. I needed more time to see the whole city, but what I did see was very moving.
My family was very involved in the military, from the civil war (north), WWII (both grandpas, several uncles) and Vietnam (both dads, several uncles).
I loved your tribute.
Beautiful post and the sculptures are a magnificent tribute to those who gave their lives~ they will always be remembered.
Wonderful....I know Dad was very happy when they finally put up the Korean War memorial...the 'forgotten war'
Thank You ! I thought about a Patriotic Post but just didn't have the time to put it together. I will do that soon, even though it won't be on the "official" day. As far as I'm concerned, we should remember all those who have served and are serving EVERY DAY.
Don't forget to remind your readers about your House Warming Party at my place this Friday. The list of attendees is up today.
sandy - :-)
kaytabug - I really want to return to DC, and I visited Arlington TWICE on this trip. It just wasn't enough.
occidental girl - I really could have spent another week or so. It would be neat to travel with military folks to each of these sites.
chrisb - thank you - and I hope we DO remember them, always.
bond - that memorial is stirring, and the wall with all the etched faces was really startling at first. The figures, seemed to be full of fear and panic - it's a war effort that was hard fought.
swampy - I'm blushing! I'll put something up on Thursday - thanks again!
I read two bloggers who travel through the middle east
one is Michael Yon (who I think is from Georgia) and
the other is Michael Totten(who is from Portland, Oregon.
They have a little pay pal button that is their paycheck. They are completely independent journalists.
My to do list wants to send me back to DC with the hubby to go to the Smithsonian and spend days dazed
Beautiful, beautiful post. It brought tears to my eyes just reading it and seeing the pictures. I know it would be so much more powerful to be there. I hadn't seen the Korean War Memorial before. I need to look that one up. I think it's my favorite.
Awesome tribute. Any day is a good day to post this.
pamela - thanks for the links! And I, too, didn't get to spend enough time at the museums. The National Gallery kept me occupied for an entire day.
jenni - the Korean War Memorial not only has the statues, but a wall of etched figures in the background. It is truly awesome.
sirdar - thanks, I thought so, too.
Great post. I posted on Sunday about my dad and Veteran's Day. Our whole family got to go to Washington, D.C. a couple of years ago. It was the best trip ever. My daughter went as a page for the Assemblies of God National Fine Arts. She worked her behind off while we toured D.C. We stayed in the Hyatt Regency a few blocks from the Capitol. The Capitol was so beautiful lit up at night. I love that city. I think I could live there if I had another life to live.
junebug - it IS quite an experience, and I'm so glad you and your family had such a good experience. The only bad thing about living in D.C. is that you aren't allowed to vote in national elections!
Very nice tribute. Thank you very much!
robocop - very welcome, and I need to do this more often!
I've recorded Band of Bloggers , but I haven't watched it yet. I'm waiting until hubby is home to watch it with me.
We are History Channel and Military Channel fans, as well.
BTW - got an e-mail from my nephew in Iraq. He's still safe (thank God!), and thanks everyone for the notes!
I felt the same way especially after finding the names of my buddies (that I had lost over there) carved on that wall. It is a daunting experience isn't it? ~ jb///
desert songbird - can't wait until I get tivo, so I can do the same. I am SO glad the nephew is still safe - I pray every day for our troops who are still over there, and the ones about to go.
lz blogger - it is incredible - I can't imagine how it must have been for you - I'm not sure I could have stood it. I was VERY surprised that the names were not in alphabetical order, but by year of death. Very tragic - thank you for your service.
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