My Blog has moved....

I wanted to let all of you know how much I appreciate your following my blog, your comments, and the conversations we have enjoyed here.  However we wanted a more dynamic site that included our photo gallery, this blog and our website all under one roof.  We have now accomplished that.  All of the entries you have read here, along with your individual comments have been moved to: VietnamVeteransMemorialTour.org

While we may update this blog with snippet previews of the newest post from the new blog, the majority of our time will now be spent at the new site.

I hope all of you will come on over and follow me and those assisting me.  Here is the full address path: http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/

Let me know what you think about it....

Bruce

Our Latest entries:

One Spectacular Statue

 Last December (2012) I went through the state of Utah and visited all nine memorials
which were on my list between Christmas and New Year’s Day. It snowed heavily the two days before I got to Salt lake City and, knowing what I had seen in cities such as Mapleton and Cedar City to the south, and I had a feeling there would be considerable snow at the site near the Capitol building. I was right. Keep Reading >>>Click Here

 My Hiatus is Over

I’m getting back on the road bright and early tomorrow morning leaving Denver for Salt lake City, and continuing the Tour through northern Nevada and Washington State before heading down the west coast through the Christmas holidays. I’m hoping to revisit the memorial at the State Capitol (pictured) for some new photos as it was piled pretty high with snow when I visited last December.  Keep Reading >>> Click Here

Big Lesson Learned

Five months of living out of a suitcase (or two or three) can change you in some very basic ways.  I joke that I am homeless, while the truth is that my home is rented and I have no permanent place to return to.  And I have to be somewhere, doing something, each and every day, so I keep pushing on. Keep Reading >>>Click Here

 Visit our Photo Gallery!

Last Add Rochester...I Promise

As you already know I was completely overwhelmed by my visit to the memorial in Rochester, NY. There were a number of reasons:

1) the scope of the memorial itself...Its footprint was as large or larger than any of the other   
     300+ memorials I have visited, with the exception of The Wall in Washington D.C.
2) the completeness of the memorial...it was as if all the other memorials I have visited, each unique
     in its  own way, were synthesized into this one incredible display.
3) the amount of information it contained was impressive and not what can be found anywhere else in
     my experience. Some of it is not so much wrong as incomplete and has been superseded by new
     data unavailable at the time this memorial was installed.
4) it shamed me into a huge admission to myself...more on this in a minute.

Regarding #3, two things come to mind. The number of fallen from Vietnam, through ongoing research, has been revised to a figure of 58,256. In addition, included in my previous post, the "Dusty" credited with writing the beautiful poem "Hello David" has since been exposed as a fraud who is not a nurse, has never been in uniform or served in any capacity in Vietnam. As I also stated in that post, standing alone, it does not decrease it's overall truth one iota in my mind.

On a more personal note, I had a serious epiphany in the moment (as if there is any other kind). Over the long days of travel on this journey I have not always been in a great mental place. Especially after driving a hundred or more miles to see a plaque the size of a dinner plate on the side of a building, or something engraved on a small rock somewhere on the grounds of a library or other government building. While I have always considered all these memorials to be "sacred" and worthy of attention, sometimes it seemed the time, effort and cost of the trip was not always worth the outcome. A very selfish attitude. I still did a small prayer, sometimes seeming to be scaled to the size of the memorial, or the information present, or lack of it, attesting to the importance given to it by those who created it, rather than giving it the very best effort possible, or the most complete blessing. Of course this is a personal assessment and might be argued by witnesses.

What brought me up short in Rochester was the realization that these mini memorials were not mini due to the indifference or ineptitude of those behind it. I have no idea of the time frames available for their completion, the budget of the municipality or family (families) involved, the design and placement parameters and a hundred other considerations required of any public display, and any judgement I may have made, consciously or unconsciously, was at the very least inappropriate if not downright demeaning to the intent of that which drew me to the site in the first place.

I resolved upon leaving to never think like that again. Judge not, lest you be judged says the Book, and it is right on.

I want to leave you with another beautiful insight from the Garden of Reflection:

In the spirit of America, seize this place and this moment

to commemorate, to educate, and heal, and to remember all

who have served, now serve and will serve

this great country:

The United States of America.

REMEMBER

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 that you loved them,

though you might not have always.

Take what they have left,

and what they have taught you

with their dying,

and keep it your own.

And in a time

when men decide and feel safe

to cal war insane.,

take one moment to embrace

those gentle heroes

you left behind.

Thank you for this, Major Michael Davis O'Donnell, helicopter pilot
KIA March 24, 1970

See this article on our new website: http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/last-add-rochester-i-promise/

How Do You Value Something That...

...is possibly tainted by a very human flaw?

Since yesterday, when I posted the poem Hello David written by "Dusty," I heard a strident voice from one of my followers on Facebook cried foul:
...she was never a nurse
...she was never in uniform
...she was never in Vietnam during the war
...she had been outed as a fraud

So I checked out the claim and, it appears he was right, and, ultimately it makes no difference to me from a creative, passionate, resonant perspective.

I have to wonder why it was important to her to be deceptive in a way that was completely unnecessary...that was easy to fact check.

But while I can't abide the fraud, I can still feel the truth and power of the words.

Should we condemn Tennyson because he wrote about the battle of Balaclava without being there? (The Charge of the Light Brigade). Or a hundred other examples I could come up with if I had the time, and felt like it?

Reading those words, it is easy to assume it happened, probably countless times in theater, and it is very likely she heard about it from someone who was likely there, who didn't have the words to express herself, or who couldn't reduce them to paper. Whatever the source, the only way I have of judging the piece is how it made me feel, how it made my mind reel, and the thoughts it brought up, and how i am a better person for having discovered them.

And, so, it is.

See this entry on our new website: http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/how-do-you-value-something-that/

Something Broke Inside Me

It happened on the best of days. Bright, sunny and clear...cool, wind at my back and clear sailing through New York State from north to south and back again, Syracuse to Elmira, Belmont and, finally, Rochester. Rochester. Rochester.

It took three and a half months...102 days...to come face to face with the experience I had been expecting from the start...that experience of emotional overload and psychic pain like I'd not experienced, perhaps ever.

It went like this: I had been looking forward to this memorial since I had seen the first photograph of it almost three years ago. Individual markers lining a walkway through a field of green. Seemed like a very peaceful setting and very creative.I knew it would be greater than I had expected as soon as I saw the walkway and the flags, and the large slabs of granite "guarding" the flags. It was impressive.

Got closer and started snapping photos. At the base of the flags I finally saw the markers...280 of them lining a gracefully carved path around and below the flag stand each about waist high, arrow straight, and bent at the top for easy line of sight of the information on each. As I began my walk along the path, occasionally reaching out and touching the markers, I noticed the detail. Felt the presence. saw the things left behind and attached to the markers...A POW-MIA flag on one...a marine corps flag on another...photos of the fallen placed by friend or family. Living proof that this space was visited often and revered by many.

Along the path, my heart got heavier and heavier...this was a more effective way of displaying the wages of war than names on a stone. This was more like a company at attention, palpable and visceral, and horrible. Then it got worse.

At the end of the path is the Garden of Reflection...large slabs of granite with more information about the war and its aftermath, it's cost and its psychic toll than is presented, as a rule, in one place. And THE POEM.

A nurse, called "Dust,y" who served in country, penned the most beautiful, awful, wrenching words imaginable, entitled "Hello David,"and I am thankful I was there to see them:

Hello David, my name is Dusty
I'm your night nurse.
I will stay with you.
I will check your vitals every fifteen minutes.
I will document inevitability.
I will hang more blood
and give you something for the pain.
I Will stay with you and I will touch your face.

Yes, of course I will write your mother
and tell her that you were brave.
I will write your mother
and tell her how much you loved her.
I will write your mother
and tell her to give your bratty kid sister
a big kiss and hug.
What I will not tell her
is that you were wasted.

I will stay with you
and i will hold your hand.
I will stay with you
and watch your life flow through my fingers
into my soul.
I will stay with you
until you stay with me.

Goodbye, David-my name is Dusty.
I am the last person you will see.
I am the last person you will touch.
I am the last person who will love you.
So long, David-my name is Dusty.
David-who will give me something for my pain?

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

It was too much. I sat on a rock and cried for nearly an hour. I cried last night reading this to my host. I'm crying again, now, writing this. I will be keeping this close to me for a very long time. I will be incorporating it into any speaking I do, and I will never forget that the cost of war does not end with the final payment of a life, but keeps going on the ledger of life, gathering interest against the soul of all touched by that death.

More about this in my next post. Photos follow below.

See this entry on our new website http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/something-broke-inside-me/

See our photo gallery: http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/photo-gallery/

Turning the Corner

The second major shift of this journey comes today on day 97. After five weeks of generally eastward movement (sorta like an EKG printout) I reached the Atlantic ocean and turned north. Two months later I am now turning the corner and heading west, capping the northeastern run in Waldoboro Maine.

I have had a great time in the last four states in which I've spent time. Rhode island with old friends, Massachusetts and New Hampshire with some new vet friends, and  now Maine with an old acquaintance from my home church who has relocated here. Special thanks to "Big" John and Noreen in Abington, MA, Ron Sr and Jr in Dover, NH and Linda in Waldoboro, ME without ALL of whom the last couple weeks would have been impossible.

We went to an interesting place for dinner last night...an old pier on a point in one of the innumerable inlets among the coast of Maine. A place with a seafood restaurant and a lot of picnic tables to spread out on, looking over the bay, the commercial and pleasure boats still in the water, the beautiful coastline, and enjoyed a great dinner: two lobsters, a bunch of steamer clams and some corn for only $21.99. That would buy you barely one lobster in Denver...lol.

This is truly the most beautiful place I've visited on this journey, at the top of a list of really incredible sights, and I know there will be more to come. I've noticed the weather cooling significantly the last week or so at night and know a big change is coming so this is a very good time to get out of the area, and, while I've only seen the barest changes in the foliage New England falls are famous for, I certainly have an idea what this place will look like in a month. And it will still be another week before I clear the area for good as I have yet to visit Vermont and Upstate New York.

Just about time to hit the road, so, time to pack it up. Enjoy.

Please Visit Our New Website where this entry has now been moved
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/turning-the-corner/

Also see our new Photo Gallery:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/photo-gallery/

25% Complete

It is a good feeling knowing I've made substantial progress on this tour. I am in week 13 as I write this and, knowing I have a couple of breaks coming, I am not a little more than a quarter of the way through.

The last couple of weeks have been a blur of activity. Seeking shelter, finding it, enjoying the company of some wonderful people along the way. While the first two months were virtually spent going from one hotel room to the next, the last few weeks I have been welcomed into peoples homes. I can't even begin to predict the next few weeks.

It was wonderful to reconnect with old family friends in the Providence, RI area. I was last there more than 30 years ago. same house, same room, same total hospitality. Anahid, you are more like my mother than you know and I was extremely appreciative of all the attention you paid to me.

I was welcomed into the homes of a couple CSL ministers, Rev. Joann in the Albany, NY area and Rev. Patrick and his wife Susan near New London, CT. One of my FB friends south of Boston has allowed me into his home south of Boston, close enough that I can easily reach all my intended targets in and around the city, and drove me to four previously uncharted (by me) memorials. Thank you John.

The weather has been incredible lately with yesterday (Aug, 24th) probably the best day of the trip...clear sky, light wind, mild temp, very blue water everywhere and a beautiful set of roads to trip on.

In the last week I have been informed of or have visited more than 20 memorials that I did not even know existed bringing my total now to more than 800. No big surprise as I expected to find more along the way, but not so much in bunches.

Interestingly, the last several states have all seemed very similar, rolling hills, huge, thickly wooded forests bordering almost every road. I'm talking North central NY, CT and MA. Surprisingly, the most wide open and easily visible landscape has been Rhode Island, the smallest state of all. Go Figure.

I have met some intensely interesting veterans lately and scored some great interviews with them. Everyone has been extremely helpful to me. I continue to be more blessed along the way than I probably deserve...but then again???

Please See our new Website where this article has been moved:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/25-complete/

Please consider donating to assist us in completing the mission

The Other New York

Today is my last day in New York State for a while. Tomorrow I venture in to Connecticut and start moseying into New England, but wanted to share a few thoughts about everything I've seen since Manhattan and the rest of NYC.

I left the city for a few days on Long Island. Never got as far as the Hamptons but got a taste of most of it. Life slows to a crawl the moment you leave NYC proper...or maybe that is just what it feels like after the whirlwind that is Manhattan. The predominant feeling is freedom. The preeminent color is Green and the flavor of the air is fresh and salty.

 Outside of a couple major freeways (stress the word FREE here) most of the roads are small and very lightly traveled and take you through some very picturesque country. From Queens to Huntington, Massapequa to Northport it was a joy to travel those roads. And the home in which I stayed in Centerport was fun...an intentional kind of community built of about 8 long, short and medium stay occupants that all got along really well, interacted at a very high level and were big on sharing. It was, in a word, fun. Now, if only my cell phones would have worked in the home it would have been perfect.

There were a couple of thrilling memorials on the Island which are posted on my Facebook page for your viewing pleasure. Unlike leaving Manhattan, I was a little sad to have to leave this place.

The rest of my days in new York have been pretty much like those days on Long Island. Rather than seeing a lot of industrialization and other signs of "progress" it has been more green, more rivers and lakes and canals, more small town quaintness and really nice people. West Point was a very special place to visit, Port Jervis was surprisingly warm and fuzzy, and the drive from there to Albany and vicinity was beautiful. My hosts in Port Jervis wouldn't let me go till I had seen the "Hawk's Nest," their local scenic road that parallels the Delaware River and was, truly, worth the trip. Thanks to you, Mark and Maryann, that part of the journey was very special.

Please see the New Website where this article is now posted:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/the-other-new-york/

My Kinda Town?? Maybe Not

New York has been a major eye-opening experience for me on a number of levels. Lesson one was just trying to get into the city.

After leaving a very gracious couple in Maple Shade, NJ (thank you very much for everything Ron and Carol) and heading north I got close to the city without incident. Then, in the last 20 miles, would up with three road tolls and two hefty bridge tolls. I spent $35.00 on tolls before I ever got into New York. I can go that far in Denver without seeing that many hands out on the side of the road hoping for a little spare change. Being on a relatively tight budget it sort of rocked me to the core and had me wondering just what four days in the city might ultimately cost me.

An hour in tight traffic waiting to access the Holland Tunnel passed fitfully, then it deposited me into lower downtown on Canal Street and, not knowing how to navigate successfully, got forced even further downtown before being able to make a couple turns and finally head uptown to my destination in Hell's Kitchen...in spite of it sounding like going from the frying pan into the fire, it turned out to be a great destination. Four nights at approximately 10th Ave and 51st St.

Had to play a few games with my car over the next few days but i was on the move a lot during the day anyway. Two things come to mind about driving in New York City: 1) I never saw a policeman writing a ticket for anything other than a parking offense, and 2) I can't believe I never saw an accident. hose people are MANIACS, but I guess defensive driving is lesson one in the city. I can guarantee one thing...after successive weeks in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New York City I will never complain about Denver traffic again.

All in all it wasn't as stressful or expensive as I initially feared. In spite of Mayor Bloomberg's best efforts there are still a few free bridges you can cross without tolls, and it never costs you to leave the City, only to get in. Just so you know, on most of the bridges and tunnels the tolls range from $7.50 to $15.00 with most pegged at $13.00.

But the city was pretty exciting, even for someone who was raised in Los Angeles. I did more walking during those four days than in the previous six months, and it felt good. Visited Central park...very good. Ate at the Papaya King...disappointing. Had some great Thai food and a couple bagels, and even some New York Style Pizza. Went to Church at the CSL in Manhattan and had a chance to speak a little (thank you Rev. Loretta). Visited the 9-11 Memorial in addition to the Vietnam Veterans memorials in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan. Saw Lady Liberty from a distance. And couldn't get out of town fast enough when the four days were up.

Next time, a story about the other New York.

Please See the new and improved VVMT Website and blog where this article has now been moved:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/my-kinda-town-maybe-not/

Please consider a donation to assist us in completing our mission:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/donate/



Join VVMT Socially:

And Gratitude Toward All...

Seems like I've been telling people I meet lately how blessed I've been on this trip and it occurred to me that I'm probably not telling it to the right sets of ears. So here is a big thank you to all who have supported me over the last nine weeks:

To all the American Legion, VFW, VVA and Amvets posts who have ponied up money for a hotel room, and in some cases a small food allowance, thank you very much. I couldn't do this without that kind of support.

To the Hoteliers and staff who have, in some cases lowered the minimum charges for a room after hearing my story, or honoring the non-profit nature of the Tour by reducing or eliminating taxes (appropriately, I might add, in case the IRS is listening), thank you for your support however modest.

Now for the smaller but most important group...those who have opened their homes to a stranger for extended stays and allowing me to recoup and recover from the road, do my thing in their area, and allow me the privilege of getting to know them just a little.

First was Larry Jr. In Kansas City, part of my father's extended family before his passing. I hadn't seen Larry or had any contact with him for about 16 years yet was taken in on a moment's notice and allowed to stay open ended and unconditionally. Thank you Larry.

Next was Debbie in St Louis, a member of a CSL community in the city who graciously, on the request of her minister, gave me three days of shelter, a tour of the city, a Phillies game and a trip to the top of the great Arch. Thank you Debbie.

Don and Kay in South/Central Illinois were next. I wish I could have spent more time with them. Family friends from their and my time in Southern California about 20 years ago, it was the first time in all that time I had seen both of them together and was treated like the long lost cousin they never knew they had. It couldn't have been a better experience. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Norton.

In Chicago, I was invited into the home of a CSL minister for four nights while I visited about 10 memorials and museums in the area. Rev. Celeste, about as different a person from myself as imaginable, was nonetheless a gracious and willing host. The one night we shared a dinner out was the highlight of our short friendship. Thank you Rev. Celeste.

To Robert and Theresa just outside Cincinnati, beautiful home in a beautiful neighborhood. I especially enjoyed the dinner in the Bavarian restaurant where, interestingly, Bavarian mustard was only available at an extra charge, and service more suited to New York than Munich. Thank you both very much.

Fast forward to Norfolk, VA, where I was stationed in the '60's, and a visit with Bruce and barbara. Bruce a former navy Commander and his gracious wife took me into their bayfront home, taught me a little about crabbing and made some very high octane coffee for me. What a couple. Thanks very much Bruce and Barbara.

Jan, in Falls Church, VA, is the executive director of the fiscal representative entity that holds and maintains my/their non-profit status. After nearly five years of conversations (during which I am convinced she thought of my brain as a sieve and having to answer my questions over and over, allowed me to stay as long as necessary with her and her S.O. Frank. After four days I'm not sure which I liked best or if there needs to be a best...lol. Met her mother and the rest of the staff at UCP, had lunch there with them, an Afghani dinner followed by a concert in a bicycle shop. A great stay with great people. But seriously, Jan I like you best...lol. Thank you for everything, and remember, I'm coming back next May again.

Scott, Angie and the kids in Baltimore. Hadn't seen you since the wedding 10 years and two more kids ago. You have no idea ho much I enjoyed your family, the help your kids were to me, your overall generosity and the fact you didn't ask me to change any diapers. Hope it won't be another 10 years. Thank you all.

Kate in Pittsburgh...are you kidding me?? Giving me the run of your B&B for four days and loving it. What an amazing time to have been there and enjoyed your hospitality. And additional thanks to my sister and the Powell's for forming the daisy chain that finally allowed me to be there and meet you and your wonderful family (and other guests). Thank God for you Katie.

Then there was John and Carol K. who, by a series of interesting coincidences took me into their home for several days near Philadelphia with an open invitation to return. John...realtor, biker, Viet vet, very nice guy with a wonderful and giving wife. I know you were Air Force John but Semper Fi anyway. Thanks for everything and hope you find my house in Denver without any fuss.

Finally, Ron and Carol in Maple Shade, NJ. Might as well be Mayberry. Small town in the middle of a host of other small towns, they have carved out a niche for themselves in every way possible to enjoy their lives in the way they want. I am currently in a suite of rooms upstairs through at least tomorrow. They will not allow me to lift a finger, clean a dish or do my own laundry. I could get used to this...lol. Thanks for all you have meant to me these last few days.

It is truly an honor to have been able to meet and get to know each and every one of you.

This article now resides on new VVMT website, and we hope you will follow and communicate with us there:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/and-gratitude-toward-all/


See Our Photo Gallery:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/photo-gallery/ 

Celebrating a Lifetime of Service

After escaping the gridlock of  Washington DC (and I don't mean only Congress) I made it over hill and dale to Delaware, and had an anxious moment when I nearly missed the exit. ba-dum-dom.

 But seriously, Dover was a nice place to pass a few minutes on the way to New Castle and Wilmington. Travel Advisory: anyone deliberately traveling to Wilmington for the purpose of spending the night...don't.  Wound up in a motel with gangbangers, prostitutes, panhandlers and the occasional bug, none of which ever shared my bed...especially the bugs. Made a clean getaway the next morning in spite of a restless night and one eye out the curtains on my car.

 Then it was on the way to Baltimore by way of Cape may and Wildwood NJ...don't bother going to your map and wondering. I know it added about a hundred miles in each direction, but there was someone I just had to meet up with.

Marvin Hume is a 92 year old WWII navy veteran with vivid memories of the war and an ache in his heart for two boyhood buddies lost in that war, one who still haunts the hull of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor.

In the early ‘70’s Marvin (and I have his permission to call him Marvin) purchased some property on the bay side of Cape May, Sunset Beach, and all its concessions. The former owner asked him to continue his tradition of raising and lowering the American Flag each day. In a moment of inspiration Marvin ran an ad in a newspaper requesting casket flags from the living relatives of fallen servicemen, the flags that adorn military coffins and are ceremoniously folded tightly and presented to surviving family.

From that single ad, over the last 40 or so years, from Memorial Day to labor day, he has flown about 5,000 casket flags in remembrance of the fallen, usually attended in the evening lowering by several hundred locals and visitors alike. Now, unable to walk distances without the aid of a walker, and legally blind, he still manages to attend the sunset services each and every night and swears he will continue till his last day on this earth.

The day to day operations of his various business are being handled by the next generation of Humes, and a succession plan is in place for the future, and there is a two-year waiting list of flags to be flown. He wants the tradition kept alive till the day there are no more casket flags left to fly.

I must admit, there are days on the road that get me down…the driving, the solitude, and the feeling that the end appears no nearer now than the day I started. But…when face to face with vision, fortitude and determination in the person of someone like Marvin, I have to take a step back and wonder…just how rough do I have it after all? Then I just keep on truckin.’

See this article on our new website and blog:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/celebrating-a-lifetime-of-service/

Please consider a donation to assist us in completing this mission:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/donate/

Starting Week 7 in the Nation's Capitol

Had a great day today, the start of Week 7.

Had lunch in the offices of United Charitable Programs, the 501C3 organization that sponsors the Tour and allows me to operate as a non-profit. I had been talking to them for the best part of 4 years or so, but always with the same one or two people. I was surprised to learn they have a staff of about a dozen dedicated people who manage the status of about 400 programs of which I am only one. It was a good lunch and I was able to pick up a check for reimbursements of some of my traveling expenses to date.

I've also had time to reflect, over the last couple days, on my good fortune to date:

 I have received support from organizations like the American Legion and VFW in more than half my nights on the road. Friends have filled some of the rest and different CSL congregations have provided much of the rest. While I have had to pay for a handful of hotel rooms i am still way under spending projections to date...a very good thing.

I have not been in a single traffic jam or even a rush hour in six full weeks. (The only gridlock near me appears to be Congress...lol) My schedule allows for late morning starts to my travel most days and early finishes, leaving early mornings for writing and updating photos and posts, and evenings for resting and recharging for the next day.

Most days I don't get to play tourist as I am pretty single minded in pursuit of my goals here but multiple day stays allow some sightseeing with the hosts allowing me a deeper look into corners of the country.

There is some genius in my itinerary and I don't claim to be that genius...I believe I was divinely led to this schedule. Evidence is that I have been one step ahead of bad hail and flooding in some cities, and one step behind other natural forces such as tornadoes and thunderstorms of biblical proportion. Rain is inevitable in the parts of the country I have been traveling through, but serious weather patterns have been dancing around me daily without even causing me to slow down. I have been blessed.

I have now been through all or part of 12 states on this swing east...13 if you include the District of Columbia, and will be in three more next week.

I recently got a little down on myself and the tour during a day that didn't go quite according to plan but was able to turn my thoughts around to all the good things I can expect to enjoy in the next couple of weeks including visits to friends I haven't seen in a decade.

Life is good.

This article now resides on our new website and blog 
We hope you will follow and communicate with us there:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/celebrating-a-lifetime-of-service/

Check out the photo gallery too!
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/photo-gallery/

Week 6...a little ahead, a little back

Hard to believe I am now more than 10% of the way through this journey, at least physically. Emotionally I'm somewhere else on the track and unsure of which direction that train is headed.

Back in Denver I have a lot of "friends and acquaintances" especially at my home church. Hard to tell on the road just how many realize I'm really gone. In truth, I have a hard time making really close friends, especially after my closest friend in the world transitioned about four years ago. My responsibility to maintain my own world so, no blame game here, just a reality that I feel a little more alone on the road than usual. And the severe rain and thunderstorms yesterday in Cincinnati and vicinity did not help the mood.

I'm not quite meeting the people on the road I had anticipated getting to know. I expected to be interacting with more veterans along the way, especially since I am being supported largely by American Legion and VFW posts, but they would just as soon make a reservation for me and send me directly to the hotel without much personal interaction. And when I do spend time in a post with other vets, there is a lot of silence, a lot of solitary smoking and drinking, even in groups, that I feel closed off to. And, personally, I don't drink much and can't stand smoke, and can't seem to hide it...a real conundrum.

And when I stay at a private home, notably those associated with other churches within the community of my home church I have great visits, sleep well, and when I leave, I reflect on the perfection of their lives and spirits which deepens my own feelings of isolation.

But, this is the road I've chosen. It is the path for which I have cajoled donations from a lot of friends and strangers, for which i have planned extensively, and on which I still expect to meet a lot of incredible people along the way. So, I'll persevere.

It's not exactly like Cortez, or one of those guys way back when who burned his ships after reaching the new world so his men had no choice but to move forward. I know I am always at choice, and I am choosing anew each day.

Looking ahead, I will be spending three days in D.C. with my sponsors at United Charitable Programs, Two nights with a former roommate in Baltimore, a couple more with a friend in New York, and the rest of the year will be filled in with other friends, family and acquaintances, both old and new.

Whether or not I choose to see it, it is all good.

The diary of this journey is now  located on the VVMT new website:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/week-6-a-little-ahead-a-little-back/

Please consider a donation to assist us in completing this mission:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/donate/

Just Another Great Day on the Road

Reviewing each day on the road is like rummaging through a newspaper each morning. A newspaper has a certain familiarity about it...same stuff in the same places, easy to navigate, but different content each time you pick it up.

So far I've been almost no place that I've ever been outside major cities and, while it is different each day I've discovered that I can expect:

     ...lots of rain at some point along the road during this part of the summer

     ...lots of forest and field interspersed with huge tracts of water (usually named something like Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, etc...and about a million lakes.

     ...lots of different gasoline prices, so get it where you think the last low one is. Last week I was buying gas in Chicago at $4.55 a gallon. Yesterday I filled up in Kentucky at $3.23 a gallon...go figure.

     ...lots of the same fast food franchises we see everyday, everywhere, but also a lot of new (to me) names of regional fast food that hasn't taken the nation by storm...yet.

     ...lots of time to check out the scenery and appreciate some of the quirkiness of the country. Yesterday I saw a billboard advertising "Amish Style Cooking, at the Schwartz Family Restaurant." Had to laugh a little.

     ...lots more miles than I had planned for. Turns out my mileage calculator used to plan for this trip measured as the crow flies. I'm almost 1500 miles over projection to this point in only five weeks. But I expect it to get better once I hit the east coast...fewer mountains for one thing.

Today I am off to eastern Indiana and southern Ohio before ending the day in northern Kentucky in a private home rather than a hotel...it'll be a nice change of pace from the last few days.

This articles new home is now located at:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/just-another-great-day-on-the-road/

See our new photo gallery:
http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/photo-gallery/

Please join us socially:

Illinois in my Rear View Mirror at last...

Well, it wasn't all bad...

OK some of it was pretty good...

All right, it was a wonderful state to visit...now if they could only get rid of that Chicago place...

But seriously, there were some huge pluses in Illinois. There was a greater sense of history for me following in the footsteps, as it were, of Lincoln for a time. There were rivers to cross, landscape as verdant and alive as I have ever seen. There were people, new and old to meet and greet and get to know again. And there were some magnificent stops at memorials that brought me to tears.

The visit started faster than a speeding bullet for me in the southern part of the state, at Metropolis, the adopted home of Superman, with a larger than life statue of the Man of Plaster and, down the road apiece, a life-size bronze sculpture of Noelle Neil (otherwise known as Lois Lane). On the other side of the courthouse from the caped crusader was the memorial I had come to see. On it was a beautiful summary of what we all hope for those involved in the war as fallen, returned, family, etc. I have detailed the words in a previous blog and, believe me they are worth reading again.

Moving a little north, I found the State of Illinois Vietnam Veterans memorial in Springfield, in a part of a large cemetery famous for its outsized homage to the human spirit and sacrifice. Large, bold memorials to WWII, Korea and Vietnam that were more like museums than monuments. A very special place, that leads us to two very special people.

Between Havana and Carthage, exists the small town of Macomb, where some of our family's friends relocated after leaving California about 20+ years ago and have built an exquisite life. I had seen Kay recently when she traveled to Colorado to see her son perform at a dinner theater, but had not seen Don in all that time. They couldn't have treated me better if I was twins. We spent a day touring the city, seeing all the sights and getting a glimpse of the history of the town. We found a tribute to Vietnam that I had not previously known about, had a wonderful dinner (my first home cooked meal of the trip), their beloved Blackhawks notch a win and move one step closer to their eventual Stanley Cup win, then a quiet morning and I was once again on my way.

Rock Island and Freeport were the next two stops before a detour into Wisconsin and back again within minutes, followed by a looooong day of driving through several Chicago suburbs from Waukegan in the north to Lansing in the south, and back to Chicago proper. Rev. Celeste Frazier of a CSL congregation in Chicago invited me into her home for four nights, enabling me the opportunity to visit my intended targets, do some sightseeing, recharge and refresh and catch up on my paperwork and reorganization. Extremely grateful for her hospitality. Had some interesting times in the city. They have perfected the concept of "more is less." Example: In Denver, if a quarter put in a parking meter gets you 10 minutes of time, you can be reasonably sure that the next quarter will buy you an additional 10 minutes, and so on. In Chicago, you can get the same 10 minutes for the first quarter but the second only gives you another 7 minutes, a third quarter gives you 5 more, and so on. But you can buy a whole hour for only $2.00.Do the math. I parked somewhere for 20 minutes in a lot as there was no street parking, and was charged $10.00. The navy Pier lets you park for a generous $25.00 flat rate...I could have spent more than 20 minutes there and got some value out of it I guess.

While downtown, I managed to shoot some memorable photos of the memorial in Wabash Plaza...much grander and more peaceful a place than I expected, and visited the Chicago Vietnam Veterans Art museum...a private museum that showcases artwork (paintings, sculptures, photos and more) created by Vietnam Veterans, much of which deals with their pain and passion, the grief and terror they came home with and the visions of the past many cannot get away from. Crazy good visit.

By the way, photos of both Wabash Plaza and the museum are available on my Face book page: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Tour should you care to see them.

All in all, it is a beautiful city, one of the cleanest big cities I've ever been in, but I'm very happy that part of the journey is over.

Now, off to Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio in my march to the east.

The Big "W"

One of the most often asked questions I get on this journey is, simply, "Why?" Why am I doing this...what is the end that I see...and some other variations of the same theme.

I have no single good answer, just as you probably don't have a single motivator in most of the major life directions you all travel. More like a succession of incidents, reminders, sudden thoughts, experiences and conversation, with your mind firmly in the universal subconscious where all thought and creativity resides, and, voila, an idea is born that you just cannot ignore or silence.

One of the many reasons I am on this "quest" is to recognize the value of each and every human being represented on each and every memorial, no matter how small. I'm not talking about just the veterans among the fallen who may or may not be named, but the families left behind, the communities who have lost a valuable part of their extended family, those courageous people who stood up and, through their pain, passion and creativity have worked through the puzzle of the how and where how much to erect even the smallest of remembrances.

After going through such small towns as Wiota, Wisconsin and Wheaton, IL this week and seen, for myself how easy it is to miss a small installation and how, after a time, they just seem to blend into the scenery like another rock, or bush or tree, how many local people even recognize them for what they are and what they represent.

Not all are easy to spot. There are some brass plaques firmly planted on freeway overpasses visible to those rushing from place to place during their workdays. There are plaques on the walls of libraries and city halls/courthouses that, over time, become part of the furniture. There are single stones that were once on well traveled paths that now have been overshadowed by ever expanding foliage, redevelopment of the area or just plain neglect. Every one of these, no matter how small, I consider to be on sacred ground and well worthy of a visit and a prayer


 If I can call attention to them even for a moment, I feel I have done a good thing. Blessings to you all.
 

Holy Exxon Batman...look at those numbers!!!

I am currently in Chicago, home of the highest gasoline prices in the nation (I believe). Just a week ago I was in Southeastern Missouri purchasing gas at 3.36.9 per gallon. Around the corner from this home is a BP station that advertizes regular at 4.45.9 per gallon. I know the difference has to be local taxes, and I know I'm not supposed to be political here, but one can't help but wonder, what, in the land of Rahm Emmanual, are the politicians doing to the people here??? This is just criminal.

But I digress. Northern Illinois has been a treat. A visit to the Rock Island Armory and national Cemetery turned out to be one of the most beautiful, pristine and meditative experience of the trip to date. Yesterday's foray EVERYWHERE, it seemed, took me past the Great Lakes Naval Training Center just north of Chicago where I spent five month after boot camp learning my trade for the navy. Looks somehow smaller today.

I began yesterday in Woodstock at the vast northwestern reaches of the Chicago suburbs and made my way through Waukegan, Buffalo Grove, Skokie, Wheaton and, finally, near the Indiana border, Lansing. What made it longer was my desire to stay off the vast array of toll ways the region is littered with...another thank you to the local government. By the way...I can't think of a single toll road in the entire state of Colorado, other than E470 which is easy to bypass and relatively cheap.

Today I move from scouting the 'burbs to moving into the heart of the city and visit as many as five memorials scattered throughout downtown Chicago...wish me luck.

And I Left My Cape at Home...

The other day I arrived in Metropolis, IL, the home of Superman, according to the local Chamber of Commerce, complete with a 15 foot tall cartoon statue of the Man of Steel as well as a nice bronze statue of Noel Neil, who played Lois lane on the original TV show. A lot of the town's identity and tourism outreach is based on the characters.

 

I was able to locate the memorial in the center of town devoted to Vietnam Veterans. While I've seen photos of many of the memorials I'm visiting, I'm not always prepared for what is actually there. It included something very special.

As many of you know, doing a Spiritual Mind Treatment (Prayer) at each site is part of the overall plan of the tour. It is different depending on what I find at each ...site and what jumps out at me showing me something that calls out for relief. On this particular stone are six lines composed in a way that is remarkable and profound and which I feel called to share with you:

...to the fallen--honor
...to the captive--freedom
...to the returned--solace
...to the wounded--healing
...to the missing--repatriation
...to the future--peace

I feel called to work these blessings into my own prayers at the memorials I visit down the road and in my spiritual practice daily, and encourage all of you who are similarly moved to include in yours, for all veterans of all campaigns. Our boys, young men and especially the older vets can use all the divine support they can get.
  

I'm Leaving St. Louis, Louis

Had my first official "day off" yesterday with an opportunity to do some fun stuff. But I digress.

I arrived in St. Louis on Saturday after a couple days in eastern Missouri that included a visit to Hannibal, that town from another time that now seems to be devoted to the lore of and lure of the mark Twain creations of Tom and Huck. Got my first glimpse of the Mississippi and took a deep breath, relaxing as the water carried south, the way the movement of water always seems to take me to another place. In this case, that other place included Columbia and Vienna, MO.

The following day I just followed the trail of memorials from Vienna all the way into St. Louis by way of St. James, St. Clair, Wentzville, O'Fallon and St. Peters. Beautiful country all...

The last 30 miles or so I got embroiled in something I hadn't seen since leaving Denver...traffic. The vast majority of this trip to date has been on small country roads or major roads in lightly populated areas and driving has been a breeze. But I pushed on.

I was scheduled to speak the next day at the St. Louis Center for Spiritual Living, and through the grace of Rev. Marigene at the center, was planning to stay in the home of one of its members, Debbie Koebel...thank you so much, both of you.

Debbie opened her home to me in every way possible and was my personal tour guide around St. Louis. I have seen many wonderful things including:

The world's largest outdoor sculpture garden

The Loop and other historical neighborhoods

Going to the top of the Arch downtown

Going to a Cardinals game with their long time rivals the Cubs

And more.

I have experienced Toasted Ravioli and St. Louis style pizza where they were born and the local indulgence known simply as Gooey Butter Cake...as tasty and as unhealthy as it sounds, but still worth doing once.

This morning I am heading back downtown to visit the St. Louis Vietnam Veterans Memorial before heading down to Cape Girardeau and close out the Missouri part of the tour. Kentucky tomorrow, then some time in Illinois. It is getting good.

Different Flags Here

Just so you know, I've never been this far north and east in my life and, while I am enjoying the scenery and the wildlife a great deal (not so much the road kill...what is it about turtles all over the road out here?), there are some significant cultural differences.

Food: Carl's Jr. is now Hardee's and Best Foods is now Hellmans...little things but you've got to start somewhere.

Accents: They tend to be from all over...this is the melting pot after all. But the best way to speak hotel in the Midwest is with a sub continental lilt in the voice. Think Raj from the Big Bang Theory.  And everyone here has been especially kind to me, answering my silly questions and getting me unlost in spite of having a GPS and other techie tools.

Missouri is where large parts of the civil war happened and the period is still planted firmly in memory. This is the first time, outside of a museum or Dukes of Hazzard episode that I've seen confederate flags flying freely. Not complaining or being offended here, just mentioning...

Lots of water...I think I've crossed the Missouri River a half dozen times in the last two days...not lost, just how the river runs through my predetermined route. OK...maybe a little lost...at times.

I'm sleeping better now and feeling better now that I've been able to develop a rhythm on the road and it should last at least until I cross the next time zone. Heading to St. Louis for the weekend where I get my first total rest day and plan to do a little sightseeing and speaking at the CSL center in St. Louis thanks to Rev. Marigene and her loyal flock.

Bruce Out.

I'm Leaving Kansas City, really...

Seems like I've been here forever, and it is only the third day. And I'm lucky to be where I am so, what's the deal?

I arrived in KC expecting to be supported for the night (or two) by a local vet and, upon arrival, discovered that it had broken down. Seeking an immediate alternative, I was able to locate some distant "family." It was the sister of my last stepmother before my father had passed in Kansas City in 1998, and it had been that long since I had any contact with them whatsoever. Imagine my trepidation, knocking on a door not knowing if I would be welcome after so long a time. But after five minutes it was as if I'd last been there 10 minutes ago...a very welcoming feeling.

We spent a little time catching up, then Larry came by and offered me his home for as long as I would be there. I thought two days. It has been three so far and one more to go. Larry, by the way is the adopted son of my father's wife's sister. We were able to spend some time together before his work schedule got in the way but I am grateful for his generosity.

Keep in mind, one of my overarching goals for this journey is to raise money for other needy veterans charities and, the more I have to along the way is less I have to distribute on behalf of veterans, so it is more pragmatic than needy...a big difference.

Although Kansas is far greener now than I am used to seeing it, I must say I've seen a lot more of it than I had originally planned. Coming up from Branson, MO to KC was a delight, especially the stops in Pittsburg (KS, not PA) and Girard, but yesterday's trek to Lawrence, Topeka, St Mary’s, Emporia and Lyndon, then back to KC, was a wearying day...also hot and muggy.

News flask...just got a call from the VFW Post Commander in Richmond, MO, offering me up some hospitality for tonight so it looks like I'll be leaving KC today after all...saves me about 100 miles of driving as well as positions me for less travel tomorrow, both good things. So, today, as soon as I get packed up again, I'll be heading for Belton, Lone Jack, Buckner, Lexington and Richmond MO...gonna be a good day.

And good day to all of you.

Reflections from The First Week...

It has been an interesting week. Informative, rewarding, humbling, eye-opening and a host of other “ing's” too numerous to mention.

I discovered reverence for the past, beyond one's own experience, in the Junction City's VFW posts keeping alive the memory of the Buffalo Soldier, as well as their continued support of the current Army.

I discovered open and overt racism from the '60's in Oklahoma where the town's only casualty of Vietnam, a black Marine, was denied burial in the town's cemetery and was laid to rest in a nearby town. fast forward...not only are those feelings gone today, as far as one can see, but veterans from the formerly all white town now regularly visit the black township's cemetery to assist in the upkeep and maintenance of all the gravesites, not just their fallen brother

I discovered four new memorials (new to me) bringing my total up to 785, and predicting it will climb to nearly 1000 before I get back home.

I discovered how effective a small group of people can be in efforts to help veterans in a small town without a lot of assistance, financial or otherwise, just plowing ahead and getting the job done.

I've met genuine heroes, including one man who was put up for the Congressional Medal of Honor for his battlefield actions only to be awarded a lesser medal. The recommendation of his commander says all it need to say as far as I am concerned.

I met a man who works harder for his community than he does for himself, giving more of his time to community service in a month than most of us do in a lifetime...thank you Mike.

I've discovered that I'm not as homesick as I though I might be and that I am looking forward to each new day as it comes, being in the moment as much as possible. I've found that I have set a schedule that is possible to keep, that I am able to maintain my commitments along the way...that I can actually do this.

And, I am wondering what this next week on the road is likely to bring my way. Thanks for reading.

And a Wave to WalMart...

I'm probably not the first person to wind up in Bentonville, Arkansas with no interest in visiting Wal-Mart’s corporate offices, but it is probably a small fraternity. But I digress...

After my goodbyes to Mike and the gang in Henryetta, OK, I made my way to Rogers, Arkansas, just across the freeway from Bentonville, for a visit to the local American Legion post that generously offered to sponsor my visit.

I was blown away by their mention of "Operation Reboot," a program they developed after a series of happy coincidences, to help veterans once off the street. Apparently, the powers that be decided it would be a good idea to find veterans housing to get them off the street. Unfortunately, once off the street they had four walls and a floor to sleep on and not much else.

The Post Commander, Barbara Aguirre, started taking donation of bedding, dishes, silverware, etc. to try to help out a little. To date, they now have a warehouse and two storage lockers full of donated furniture, bedding, etc…AFTER outfitting nearly 80 veterans over the last 16 months. I visited the warehouse and witnessed Barbara and 11 other dedicated veterans and interested helpers working diligently to assist the next in a long line of needy vets. They are truly an inspiration. They get no money or other support from the State or National Legion Headquarters, or any other source, just plowing ahead the best they can doing the best they can.

I hope the news spreads rapidly and other programs like "Operation Reboot" get started all over the country. Our veterans certainly can use the help.

They also told me of two additional memorials that had escaped my research, one in Avoca and the other in Bella Vista, both on my way north to Missouri. Turns out the Bella Vista memorial is a generic site to all conflicts in our history, not quite fitting my guidelines for the tour, but one that is grand in scope, very well designed and worth visiting. It is no less sacred in my eyes than any other just because it is not Vietnam specific.

Spent the next couple of hours winding my way slowly through two-lane country roads en route to Branson, MO for the night. I found the next place on my list of memorials inside a restaurant, Jackie B. Goode's Uptown Cafe, diagonally across the street from a half-scale replica of the Titanic, complete with bow wave shaped fountain and mock iceberg...go figure.

The owner is a younger brother of a Viet vet who died in battle, for which he was awarded the Bronze AND Silver Star posthumously, and who purchased and renamed the diner for his brother, and set up a memorial wall inside the restaurant. A very moving and personal tribute.

On to Springfield and Carthage Missouri later today.

Well, it is Oklahoma...

Woke up this morning to a deluge of biblical proportions. Heavy rain, a foot of water in the driveway (well, almost), and lightning/thunder. No hail, thank goodness.

I'm sitting in my latest hotel room waiting to be picked up for a pancake breakfast where I am scheduled to speak...not much chance of that happening now.

All in all it was a great visit to this town of 6000, Henryetta, OK. I was, with the help of a man with a lot more energy than I seem to possess, Mike Doak, a Vietnam era Marine. Mike seems to know everyone here, does more community service than actual work, and enjoys every minute. With his assistance, I was able to speak at a Lions Club luncheon and the town's Historical Society monthly event. I think I held my own.

The actual Henryetta Vietnam Veterans Memorial was nothing spectacular, but was touchingly composed on a very peaceful alcove off Main Street and maintained perfectly by the local Woodmen of the World staff, of which Mike is the most active.

Nearby in the smaller town of Clearview, Mike and a few vet friends regularly visit to help maintain the local cemetery where rests the remains of the only Henryetta victim of Vietnam. He is an inspiration to me and to the entire town. Semper Fi, Mike.

Off today for Hulbert, OK and Rogers, Arkansas.

Another first

Yesterday, after a visit to the memorial in Wichita, KS I made it further south in the state to Winfield, just a handful of miles north of the Oklahoma border. Little town, great people. I was able to experiment with the interview process a little. Turned out the best way to do it was to move from the noisy VFW hall to the town's memorial just a block or so away, sit in front of the marble slabs of the V.V. memorial and shoot. I had three interviewees, all with different stories to tell, and hope Ii can figure out how to post it somewhere on online soon.

Today I hop across the border into Oklahoma and mosey on down to Tulsa to meet up with Ray Hildreth, author of Hill 488, the story of a platoon caught between the proverbial rock and hard place, and a compelling read. I've been looking forward to this day for a while now.

A little note about small town America…it is vey common to see vacant storefronts in strip malls and other commercial locations in big cities these days but it is somewhat unnerving to see the same thing in these small towns where small businesses, sole proprietors have thrived for decades, if not centuries. The motel in which I am staying has a NEW list of restaurants available in the city...the first two I tried were already gone. This economy has hit everyone harder than we can imagine. It is supposed to be getting better...I certainly hope so.

Getting a Grip

This trip is going to require more discipline than I am used to exercising...food intake, economical driving habits, taking careful inventory of my "stuff" as I travel from temporary shelter to the next one, but I am motivated to make it all work.

Mornings appear to be leisurely so far (but it is early yet), giving me a chance to relax, reflect and write after a decent night's sleep on the previous day's activity. Right now I am reflecting on my awesomely unexpected evening...but I digress. Leaving Lincoln, I headed due south through some secondary roads all the way into Kansas ending up in Junction City, home of Fort Riley and the Big Red One, or First infantry Division, famous for it's work in Vietnam and other campaigns. I had a chance meeting at the memorial with one of the caretakers of the memorial in J.C., a civilian, former Desert Stormer who ha taken on the job privately, along with some of his friends to do what the city doesn't.

My stay in Junction City was supported greatly by the local VFW Post 8773 and it's Commander Anthony Gibson. This mostly black post was incredibly gracious and welcoming to me...their history includes honoring the memory of the Buffalo Soldiers. If you've never heard of them it would be worth looking up. Turns out they were preparing to take a supply of food to Kansas State U. to feed the cast and crew of the Soldier Show, a traveling group of active duty men and women with particular talents (theatrical). I was invited to go with them, enjoy the show and assist in serving dinner to them after the show. It was a huge treat to me to be able to give back just a little in the face of their hospitality, and enjoy some great performances.

I wonder what other little adventures are in store for me in the days to come. Off to south-central Kansas today, Wichita and Winfield before heading Monday and Tuesday into Oklahoma. Unlike recent weeks Oklahoma looks calm for the immediate future.

The Real Day One

OK...after more than three years of on again-off again planning the start date came roaring in on me like one of those famous Oklahoma tornados. No matter how early you start, how effectively you plan and how diligent you are, there are always those things that absolutely, positively can't be done till the last minute.

That last minute finally ended about 8am yesterday morning, May 31, 2013. Put the last of my stuff into the back of the car and drove away. Guess, in the back of my mind I had always thought there would be a sendoff...a group gathered to see me off...a motorcade or motorcycle escort for a few miles to begin, that kind of thing. I just drove away.

Then the thought really hit me. Why did I deserve anything special? I hadn't done anything yet. Sure, I've visited about 60 memorials in my spare time while traveling, and I've done an alpha and a beta test of the concept, but anyone can hit the road for a week or so at a time. Knowing I won't be home for a whole year is definitely a challenge.

Packing became an art form...down to toenail clippers, an extra bar of soap and other sundries that most people usually leave home when traveling. No travel sized shampoos, etc. The regular bottles are much more economical AND won't have to go through airport security along the way...lol. But it all takes SO MUCH ROOM.

Fast forward about three hours and I am at my first official stop, Sidney, Nebraska. The GPS on my new tablet leads me right to the memorial park. I arrive to find that it is not strictly a Vietnam Veterans memorial but one memorializing the passage of local citizens of several conflicts, all of them addressed separately. I found the one dedicated to Vietnam and started taking photos. While many memorials have repetitive features, this was extremely original in concept. You can see the photos on my face book page at Vietnam Veterans memorial Tour, and I hope you do. Did my prayer, soaked in the aura of the site and left.

I made a pit stop in North Platte only to find another memorial, unexpectedly, right across from the gas station I stopped in…more of a generic memorial to all campaigns, there were unexpected and original memorials to the North Platte GI Canteen and the women who helped support the approximately 6 million military who passed through the Canteen in the day. Another prayer treatment and on my way to Kearney.

Arrived at the VFW Post in Kearney about 4:30pm and met with Jim Lutz the post Commander. The post had graciously offered to host me that evening. After some get to know you time, he and I got into another post member's jeep and headed to the local Vietnam memorial in Apollo Park…a small, simple stone with a brass plaque in front of a flagpole No flag flying, not much maintenance visible on or around the memorial but it is still hallowed ground as far as I am concerned. I'm sure someone will get around to cleaning the marble and shining the brass one of these days.

Back to the post, down to my hotel room for the night, a good night's sleep and up, bright eyed and ready for day 2, visits to Lincoln, Nebraska and Junction City KS. Stay tuned.