Riverfront Park today (home, military, deal)

[Yeledaf]

The first really nice day of the year. Sunshine, temperature well above freezing, the river roaring and rolling with the start of the spring runoff. I wandered around for a while. I used to walk through the park on my way to work every morning, and then on my way home every evening, for years and years. Don't get downtown much any more, though.

I strolled past the place just west of the park where Sherman Alexie pontificated on how white men don't love their mothers, and had his words carved in stone at public expense.

I walked across the little bridge near the carousel, up the hill, and past the forlorn ice rink.

Then I found myself at the Vietnam memorial, and remembered this:

Vietnam War Battle of Bu Dop

and this:

Battle Of An My - Danger Forward Magazine Article - Armchair General and HistoryNet >> The Best Forums in History

and these men:

Sergeant Bert Carter
SP/4 Fred Haas
Doc Hook
Sergeant Bernard Ryan
Sergeant Adcock Kingsberry

All we really have is our memories. I hope -- I trust -- that yours are better than mine.

[AK76]

Good grief, Yeledaf! You start on such a bright note then rapidly descend into melancholy. I hope things brighten up for you ASAP!

I happened to catch a Vietnam war documentary on the The History channel, yesterday. Always a very sad thing when war is the discussion.

My father's father cried over his memories of experience in WWII until the day he died at 95yo, he was only ever able to tell me just enough for me to imagine what it may have been like when the USS Cushing was torpedoed out from under him and his crew mates at the battle of Guadalcanal.

I have a great deal of respect for military service men and women, past and present, former and active.