Today is Veterans Day in the United States. Originally called Armistice Day, Veterans Day marks the date that World War I formally came to an end. Veterans Day is intended to honor all who have served in the US military (in contrast to Memorial Day, which honors those who gave their lives in service to their country).
Veterans Day seems to take on more and more significance for me with every passing year. While I never served in the military myself, my father served in the Army in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and a good chunk of my childhood was spent moving around between military bases. My mom told me recently that she moved 22 times in their first 26 years of marriage–her own kind of service as a military spouse.
Just before this year’s Veterans Day, I learned of a newly dedicated Vietnam Memorial replica in Punta Gorda, Florida, about 45 minutes drive from my parents’ home in Fort Myers. It is one of just four such replica walls in the country. My parents are both 92, and their military heritage is important to them…and to me. So a Veterans Day plan was hatched.
My father’s unit in Vietnam was the 34th Engineers, and he always said that the 34th was his best assignment–with troops that were “the best of the best.”
Many from the 34th are still in touch through their annual reunions, and each year at the reunion they hold a memorial service for the 21 members of the unit that didn’t come home. Reunion locations have ranged from California to Maine to Puerto Rico to Washington, DC, with the constant being a lot of folks that share a special bond from their service in Vietnam.
21 might seem like a small number in contrast to the 58,307 U.S. service members that were lost in Vietnam—but it is a very big number for a veteran looking back on his or her service, and obviously a very big number for the families and friends of each person on that wall. After all, we know full well that these aren’t just numbers.
As for our visit today, the replica Vietnam Memorial Wall in Punta Gorda is extremely well done. It’s located in Laishley Park, right next to the water, in a setting that seems almost designed for it (even though the wall was just built this year, long after the park was established). The Punta Gorda wall is exactly half the size of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, but the impact of seeing all of those names can never be scaled.
Visiting a memorial may be more appropriate on Memorial Day than on Veterans Day, I know. But visiting a memorial on any day seems like time well spent. Our country has gotten better at remembering those that we have lost, and at recognizing those who have served–but I’m not sure that we have quite reached the level of “best of the best.”
All in all, it was a beautiful November day in southwest Florida–and we appreciated the opportunity to thank our veterans, and to remember those that paid the ultimate price. Thanks to the city of Punta Gorda for helping us remember, and thanks to all of you veterans out there for your service!
Wow, I had not heard of the replica walls, and its great to see how they reach communities that might not get to the original memorial in DC. I ran by the original last week and it was busy with mesmerized visitors as always. What a powerful way to recognized those who served us during that time. Thanks for this thoughtful post, right on time.
Wait a second, you did not mention what you ate! But you did cook up a lovely article. So precious to know that people can visit other memorials around the country. Sending lots of love to all the families who’s lives were touched by their loved ones being in the military in wars abroad, especially Vietnam.
Hey, Souzzchef is adventures in food, travel, and backcountry kitchens…so at least we hit one out of three. 🙂 In any case, it was a nice visit to the Punta Gorda version of the Wall, and totally agree about bringing memorials to more of the country. Thanks for your comment!