Already this has been such an interesting journey.  As a Southerner, reared on the history of the South, life already was a challenge to overcome the prejudices of my parents.  I've marveled at the beauty of so many Memorials and Monuments.  After trying to read every inscription, I realized that I was admiring some Memorials and Monuments dedicated to those who may have killed members of my own familial ancestors in the Civil War.  My husband was not aware that there had been Prisoner of War camps in the United States during world War II and has been amazed at the number of documented Camps we have found.  He, likewise, was totally shocked to learn that the United States Government promptly uprooted Japanese-Americans and transported them to camps throughout the United States.  There are areas of the United States where one War overshadows another.  There are far more American Revolution War Memorials/Monuments in the East, compared to the Western United States.  There are fewer Civil War Monuments in the West as compared to the East.  The Pacific-Northwest and the Southwestern Part of the United States has more Memorial/Monuments dedicated to the Indian-Wars.  Trends develop in certain areas.

While part of this project is to allow anyone access to any Memorial/Monument, it is so much more.  On so many of the Memorials and Monuments are etched the words, "Lest We Forget."  As time and weather has ravaged some Memorials and Monuments, eventually time and weather will erase the Honored Names inscribed on so many more.  We can not allow them to fall by the wayside.  We can not forget the ultimate sacrifice they made, not only for the United States, but for Family, Friends, Freedom, Courage, Honor, and Life.  And we can not forget or ignore the many who have come back wounded, physically, emotionally, or mentally and who continue to fight unknown battles and nightmares of which we non-combantants have not endured.  Make a promise to pull a weed or place a flag on an old and long forgotten Memorial or Monument.  Scrap the dirt from the names.  Let a wounded warrior go first.  Treat a Veteran to coffee. 

As you stop to Honor those who have died, remember to stop and Honor those who live.   Let us change our motto from "Lest We Forget" to "We Have Not and Will Not Ever Forget."

RJT (Copyright 2013)
 

A Heartfelt Thanks To:

• All the Numerous People who although did not have an answer to my questions, were willing to forward my inquiry to someone who might.
  
• Don Ampietro, City of Gunnison, Parks and Recreation Department, Gunnison, Colorado
  
• Erinn Barnes, Special Collections, Pikes Peak Library District; Colorado
  
• Nicki Bresnyan, Town of Groton, Connecticut
  
• David Buttery, Woodland Park, Colorado
  
• Morris D. Cash, Veteran's Memorial Committee Chairman, Veterans Memorial of Garland County, Hot Springs, Arkansas
  
• Cheryl E, Reference Librarian, Hawaii State Public Library System
  
• Katy Dillman, Reference Librarian, James Blackstone Library, Branford, Connecticut
• Ruth and Larry Dolezal, American Legion Post 54 - Gunnison, Colorado.
• Abigail Croteau, Bloomfield Town Hall, Bloomfield Connecticut
  
• East Lyme Public Library, East Lyme, Connecticut
  
• John Enstrom, Minnesota
  
• Janis L. Franco, Local History Librarian, Meriden Public Library, Meriden, Connecticut
  
• Lisa Gugliotti, Reference Librarian, The Henry Carter Hull Library, Clinton, Connecticut
  
• Conni McDaniel Hall, IAGenWeb State Coordinator, Iowa
  
• Sara Hanson, Executive Director, White Bear Lake Area Historical Society, White Bear Lake, Minnesota
  
• Johanna Harden, Archivist, Douglas County Library, Castle Rock, Colorado
  
• Sheila Henry, Rocky Ford Public Library, Rocky Ford, Colorado
  
• Captain Jeff Hoffer, Joint Force Headquarters Historian, North Dakota Army National Guard
• Mary Hogan, Library Director, Rocky Hill, Connecticut
  
• Information Services Staff, Golden Public Library, Golden, Colorado
  
• Joe, Reference Department, South Windsor Library, Connecticut and Patriotic Commission
  
• Nathan Johnson, City Planner, Pine City, Minnesota
  
• Elizabeth Joseph, Stamford, Connecticut
  
• Ray Kallstrom, Minnesota
  
• Mike Keithly, Post 60 Commander and Valley County, Idaho, Veterans Service Officer
  
• Deb Kramer, City of Watkins, Minnesota
  
• Ann Mazeau. Local History Specialist, Burlington Public Library, Burlington, Connecticut
  
• John O'Donnell, Danbury Library, Danbury, Connecticut
  
• Eileen Pearce, Librarian, Windsor Locks Public Library, Windsor Locks, Connecticut
• Jeremy Peirsol, American Falls Parks and Recreation Superintendent, American Falls, Idaho
  
• Joe Pepe, archivist, Hamden History Library Room, Hamden, Connecticut
  
• Richard Platt, Milford, Connecticut
  
• J.J. Pratts, Publisher, Historical Marker Database, Virginia
  
• Debbie Reynolds, Director, Lamar Public Library, Lamar, Colorado
  
• Laura Ruttum Senturia, Library Director, Stephen H. Hart Library & Research Center, Colorado
  
• Lisa Sprague, Public Services Librarian, Enfield Public Library, Enfield, Connecticut
• Louise, Hawaii and Pacific Section, Hawaii State Library
  
• Megan Stine, CHS President, Clinton Connecticut
• Michael F. Walsh, Photographer, Missoula Montana Memorial
  
• Patricia Watson, New Britain Public Library, New Britain, Connecticut
  
• Carl White, History Library, Greenwich Library, Greenwich, Connecticut
• Ed Zackery, Director/Service Officer, Medina County, Ohio