Larry A. Smail's Blog

WW 2 Memorial water display.

Bible prophecy tells us that someday there will be no more war. Until that fulfillment occurs we should all have the utmost respect, and reverence for all those veterans over the years.

Note structures in background.

We visited a few memorials, as time allowed, in our Washington D.C. trip. The World War Two Memorial was a special place of reverence for me. My father, Allen K. Smail was engaged in that great conflict. He was in the European theater. So, it is easy to see why I had a bond at that site.

We visited this memorial at night. This allowed a view of the lighting, and moving water fountains on display. They glowed! I salute you veterans!!! I recently lost a 93 year old friend , and neighbor. He was in the Pacific actions.

Detail of Korean War Memorial.

Another place of homage was the Korean Memorial. This memorial features veteran statues in various positions representing them walking through rice fields. A beautiful wall sets along side them with faces across the smooth surface. I understand some of these faces were made from actual  veteran likenesses. of that war.

The look of veterans on the Korean War Wall.

Nearby was the Vietnam Memorial. I was too young to meet the draft during this war. President Nixon announced the end of the military draft the very year I graduated. At times, I think about what would have happened if I would have been drafted to fight that bloody war. It proves to be a sobering thought. Part of me wishes I would have been their to do my duty.

Vietnam Memorial

The Vietnam Wall stretched quite a distance featuring the names of those lost in that long war.

Vietnam Memorial Wall.

The Iwo Jima memorial proved to be a touching one for me. A Japanese woman was crying as I placed my arm around her to try to comfort her. She expressed much emotion upon seeing the memorial. She told me of being around eight years old and seeing the B-29 American bombers flying over Japan.

I asked her if he father saw service during the war. She told me he had been captured, and was a prisoner of war. I told her of my dad being in the Germany front. We sensed a bond, and talked a little bit. As we walked away she was very thankful for my interest. I found holding back tears difficult.

Iwo Jima Memorial