A Tribute To The Veterans

 The Vietnam Veteran's Wall came to Ripley in 2007.

I wrote the following poem and left it at The Wall. I placed it on the ground, in the midst of the other many items, all left by the visitors who came to the Ripley Court House Lawn that April in 2007.

The Wall That Heals

She brings a flower
Full of life,
Fresh and fragrant.
The mirrored surface
Reflects her tears.

Her fingers flow across
Unending names.
The names of many
Now gone or missing.
She stops and stares
In a trance.

She stares at one name,
Now just a memory.
A husband,
A father, a son,
Now just a memory.

The granite panels
Stand, strong and silent.
Honor to those
That were strong,
But now silent.

The wall that heals
captures her tears
In its reflection.
The wall that heals
Remembers
Those men and women.

The flower now faded,
Withered, and worn
Lays in its reflection,
Catching the tears
Of other loved ones
In procession.

J Smart

© 2007

I pay tribute to the veterans still living today and to the ones who have sacrificed their lives for our country.

My family members have served our country since the Revolutionary War. We have ancestors who fought on both sides of the Civil War. 

Dad still talks of his time in the Army.
He still speaks a little Japanese and he still pronounces the Japanese names and places with fluency.

This picture of Dad is dated July 6, 1946 Fukuoka, Japan

My husband was in the Navy during the Vietnam Conflict. He was stationed at the naval base in Puerto Rico and for 2 years was on the guided missile destroyer USS Leahy DLG-16.

Charley at Kanawha Airport going back after being home on leave.

I pay tribute to all veterans today, in your family and mine. God Bless the USA.

Travel Souvenirs

When my husband was in the Navy, he bought souvenirs in most of the places he traveled. They were in his parent's house until recently. We brought them to our home this week.

He was stationed in Puerto Rico, and he sailed on the USS Leahy DLG16. When they weren't steaming out in the ocean, the Leahy was docked at Norfolk, VA.

Here is a souvenir pillow from Puerto Rico. Isn't it beautiful? It goes perfectly with our chair.



He bought beer steins made in West Germany. He believes he bought these in Greece. The one on the left winds up and plays music.


While he was in Greece, he also bought handmade Greek vases. The ones on the left are made of spun copper.



My favorite items he bought were alabaster items handmade in Italy. Here are candlestick holders and a small birdbath with tiny doves around the edge of it. He bought these when they stopped at Naples, Italy.


My very favorite alabaster items he bought were two lamps. Here is a picture of one lit up. See how the pattern of the alabaster shows when the light is turned on. I just love the lamps!



They docked at the piers of Barcelona, Spain, and like all the other sailors, he felt compelled to go to a bull fight. Now, before anyone says anything about the cruelty of bull fights, I totally agree. I feel sorry for the bulls, too. Here is a large tapestry he brought back from Barcelona. It is huge and covers the entire length of the couch.


I think these are what they called banderillas.


I will never get to go to these places, so I'm glad he brought back souvenirs of his travels home with him. Now, I just have to figure out where I'm going to put them all.

Our little house in the hills of West Virginia is getting a little crowded.