I think so!
Here was the national injustice in my mind....
Here was the national injustice in my mind....
You could not help from seeing the images on the news for 15 days when the government of the US was shut down. It affected about 800,000 spread across the US and no doubt foreign offices around the world. The above images were at the National World War 11 Memorial at Washington DC. The bottom right shows a veteran who was banned from entry on risk of being arrested.
I witnessed open spaces being banned in DC and at Gettysburg were you could not walk across an open fields on all sides of numerous monuments dedicated to those who fought and many lost their lives to protect their way of life. Open spaces like the DC monument left the vets and others wondering why and puzzled at the reasons for boarding up open spaces for reasons most could not fathom.
I witnessed open spaces being banned in DC and at Gettysburg were you could not walk across an open fields on all sides of numerous monuments dedicated to those who fought and many lost their lives to protect their way of life. Open spaces like the DC monument left the vets and others wondering why and puzzled at the reasons for boarding up open spaces for reasons most could not fathom.
Well folks, in an unintended way, the people at the US Post made things better at the WW 11 Memorial on Veterans Day, (Canada's Remembrance Day) when they unveiled a new series of two stamps that will no doubt be very well received by the veterans and hopefully all citizens.
The image on the left shows the Lincoln Memorial at DC, in the foreground. At the top of the picture is the Washington Memorial Tower off at a distance to the East. Not clear in the image, but just this side of the base of the tower is where the WW11 Memorial stands.
The image ought to look familiar to those who saw the movie Forest Gump and the crowd scene when he stood at the base of the Lincoln monument and the crowd were in front of him with the tower at their backs. The image on the right is now looking back westward towards the Lincoln Monument at the top of the image.
At the bottom is a good image of the National WW11 Memorial.
The image on the left shows the Lincoln Memorial at DC, in the foreground. At the top of the picture is the Washington Memorial Tower off at a distance to the East. Not clear in the image, but just this side of the base of the tower is where the WW11 Memorial stands.
The image ought to look familiar to those who saw the movie Forest Gump and the crowd scene when he stood at the base of the Lincoln monument and the crowd were in front of him with the tower at their backs. The image on the right is now looking back westward towards the Lincoln Monument at the top of the image.
At the bottom is a good image of the National WW11 Memorial.
This map should look familiar to regular readers. Arlington Cemetery is o to the right at item "A." Item "B" shows the Lincoln Memorial with the Potomac River separating these two historic sites. To the right of "B" is the Reflecting Pool and at "C" is the WW11 Memorial. Item "D" is of course the Washington Monument and up at the top, item "E" shows the location of the White House.
Many members of the military family, veterans and members of the public gathered on Veterans Day to see the unveiling of these stamps. While over 16 million wore the American uniform and went off to war, only 464 men were awarded the prestigious medal. Almost half of these were posthumous awards, meaning of course the recipient lost his life in the action resulting in the award.
The US Post wanted to continue the preservation of the stories of these heroes and approached each one of the remaining 12 WW11 recipients still alive awhile back and obtained their permissions to use their pictures on a cover sheet that was issued with the above stamps, 20 per package. But sadly, by unveiling date 4 of the heroes had passed on.
The image on the left is the current Navy and Marine Medal of Honor. The large image on its right is that of the Army. In WW11 there were no officially designed medals for the air force and they did not receive their own till 1965.
The US Post wanted to continue the preservation of the stories of these heroes and approached each one of the remaining 12 WW11 recipients still alive awhile back and obtained their permissions to use their pictures on a cover sheet that was issued with the above stamps, 20 per package. But sadly, by unveiling date 4 of the heroes had passed on.
The image on the left is the current Navy and Marine Medal of Honor. The large image on its right is that of the Army. In WW11 there were no officially designed medals for the air force and they did not receive their own till 1965.
Ninety-two year old George Sakato, MOH recipient, and the widow of MOH recipient, the late Senator Daniel Iouye's wife pulled the cord that unveiled publicly for the first time the new stamps.
The second fellow on the left is MOH recipient William Ross, and 2nd from right is MOH recipient Harvey Barnum and the Postmaster General of the US... Mr. Patrick Donahoe. To the right is a cover page that comes with the purchase of a sheet on the new stamps. It shows the images of the 8 living, and 4 deceased men... the last dozen recipients from WW11. Inside, but not shown, is a complete list of all the recipients from the war. I will bring you an image of this at a later date. It should include the names of two Canadians., and a third with a connection to Canada.
While the ceremony was going on at this monument, the President was across the river at Arlington...and laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Over 500 were said to have stood in line for over an hour to speak to the Medal of Honor men at the stamp unveiling ceremony and collect keepsake autographs.
While the ceremony was going on at this monument, the President was across the river at Arlington...and laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Over 500 were said to have stood in line for over an hour to speak to the Medal of Honor men at the stamp unveiling ceremony and collect keepsake autographs.
Not far away stands the Washington Monument, that stands over 555 feet...by a few inches and is the tallest stone tower and also the tallest obelisk in the world.
It got its start in 1848 and not finished until 1884. For a period of about 23 years work on it was put on hold during the UNCIVIL War and the term of the infamous DO NOTHING GOVERNMENT. Look very carefully at the colour for the first quarter of its height. It is darker. That's when halting stopped for so many years.
When I was in DC I noticed that there is scaffolding all around the tower. It is shut down to the public as a result of damages sustained from the recent earthquake in Virginia and Hurricane Irene. It is expected to open next year to the public again.
But here is how it looks more recently.... The upper right is at about the 500 ft mark. Note the size of the half dozen workman in comparison to the tower itself.
It got its start in 1848 and not finished until 1884. For a period of about 23 years work on it was put on hold during the UNCIVIL War and the term of the infamous DO NOTHING GOVERNMENT. Look very carefully at the colour for the first quarter of its height. It is darker. That's when halting stopped for so many years.
When I was in DC I noticed that there is scaffolding all around the tower. It is shut down to the public as a result of damages sustained from the recent earthquake in Virginia and Hurricane Irene. It is expected to open next year to the public again.
But here is how it looks more recently.... The upper right is at about the 500 ft mark. Note the size of the half dozen workman in comparison to the tower itself.
The bottom right gives an example of the damage found and needing repairs. Image being at the base if a chuck of it lands... and probably makes its own crater. hehe.
And for those who would love a fee trip to DC here's a link to the city and a closer look at the tower this very minute. http://www.earthcam.com/usa/dc/washingtonmonument/?cam=washmon
That's all for today...
Bart
And for those who would love a fee trip to DC here's a link to the city and a closer look at the tower this very minute. http://www.earthcam.com/usa/dc/washingtonmonument/?cam=washmon
That's all for today...
Bart
RSS Feed