Some Unusual Facts:

• Appleton, Minnesota - In 1947, the streets in Appleton were renamed to reflect the sacrifices of life of soldiers from Appleton.  Thielke Avenue, Miles Street, Schlieman Avenue, Edquist Street, Ronning Avenue…..the list goes on.  This practice has been continued to this present day and the citizens of Appleton believe this is the only community within the United States to maintain this tradition.

• Bemidji, Minnesota - Freedom Defenders Veterans Memorial;  The centerpiece for this site is a Life sized bronze statue of Charles Lindberg, a nationally recognized hero, in full battle dress, who at the time of the initial dedication was the last surviving Flag raiser of the first raising of the Flag at the WWII battle of Iwo Jima. His statue is mounted on a stone pillar and flanked by the colors of the United States and the flags of each branch of service and a POW flag. In front of each of the six flags are large stone pillars (each weighing six tons) which depict the figures of military men and women from each branch of service. IMPORTANT NOTE:  This honorable and heroic man should not to be confused with the aviator, Charles Lindberg.  For more information on Charles "Chuck" Lindberg, please visit http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/06/25/lindbergobit or http://www.ecmag.com/section/miscellaneous/electricians-honor-last-surviving-iwo-jima-flag-raiser
• Did you know that Nazi's actually landed in U-Boats, in Florida, during World War II?  Read all about it - Sanford, Florida - World War II Operation Pastorius; Dedicated 1989; Located Ponte Vedra Boulevard; http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=57383
• Last Man Killed in the Civil War - http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/hobdys2.html
  
• Most Unusual Place for a Memorial - Carwash, Frrontenac, Kansas

• Funniest Dedication - Eightball - Killed for eating women's underwear off a clothes line

• George Takei; (born 1937), an actor best known as Mister Sulu from Star Trek (1966–69). Since his parents refused to take a vow and did not "pass" the loyalty questionnaire, they were transferred to the Rohwer Camp.  The family was later transferred to Tule Lake War Relocation Center.
  
• Memorial to a Cat - Tom Cat (Civil War); Dedicated 1963; Located Fort McAllister State Park; http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=13038
• Ohio- Port William - Youngest enlistee - Gilbert Van Zandt; Dedicated 1999; Located Main and 2nd Streets; http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=27836 (Note:  Considered the youngest to ever enlist.  Enlisted Company D, 79th Ohio Volunteer Infantry at age ten years, seven months, and sixteen days.)
  
• Oldest Man in Union Army - Curtis King (Civil War); Dedicated 1994; Located US 63; http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=30370
• Red Rovers (Courtland, Alabama)- "The Red Rovers, a volunteer military company that participated in the Texas Revolution as a unit of the Lafayette Battalion of James W. Fannin's regiment, was organized by its captain, Jack Shackelford, at Courtland, Alabama, in November 1835 and named for the fact that its members were uniformed in red jeans." http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=29054

• Soldiers Monument (American Revolution), Milford, Connecticut -  It commemorates an Important incident here in Milford having to do with the British landing about 200 American prisoners on the shore, ill with smallpox.  46 of them died within a month and are memorialized on the monument.  In 1872 an additional inscription was added memorializing Capt. Stephen Stow who volunteered to care for the smallpox victims and died of the disease himself. 

• Unusual Name - Burnt Corn, Alabama

• USS Hawkbill - Hawkbill had the unfortunate chronological numbering of 666, earning it the nickname of �Devil Boat.� But the ominous Biblical numeral never affected its many missions. (See Arco, Idaho, for Memorial Information)

• Veterans Day originated in Birmingham, Alabama; http://www.birmingham365.org/event/detail/440983427B
• William Jasper - there are eight US Cities and 7 US Counties named after William Jasper, American Revolution Hero - Can you name them without looking?
  
• Leave It To The Internet - Conducted a search on a Monument named "Wings Over Montgomery."  Surprise and smiles were abundant when the internet search response came back with "KFC."
• Just in case you're interested - Drive a Tank - http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g43206-d3164227-Reviews-Drive_A_Tank-Kasota_Minnesota.html
• As of July 6, 2013 - 1,655 American are still considered to be "Missing in Action" in Vietnam - http://www.miafacts.org/how_many_missing.htm
• As of July 6, 2013 -  over 78,000 are still "Missing in Action" from World War II - http://www.miafacts.org/how_many_missing.htm
• As of July 6, 2013 - over 8,000 are still "Missing in Action" from Korea - http://www.miafacts.org/how_many_missing.htm

Unusual Memorials/Monuments

Coffee County, Alabama

• Boll Weevil Monument; http://www.archives.alabama.gov/aha/markers/coffee.html

Franklin, Michigan

• Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated - Unknown; Located Franklin Cemetery; http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMCFGN_Franklin_Cemetery_Veterans_Memorial