NJ Viet Nam Veteran's Memorial in Holmdel

After leaving AC from my trip to see Revel on opening day, I stopped 80 north in Holmdel. I had originally thought about tacking this on to the end of that trip log, but decided it was important enough to merit it's own thread.


Reminder: click on most photos for a larger version.



NJ Viet Nam Veterans Memorial

At about mile 116 on the Parkway is the PNC Bank Arts Center (formerly known as the Garden State Arts Center). They do a lot of summer concerts and events. The only access is via the Parkway. About 13 years ago, my wife and I had tickets to see Styx. When we got there, we were told the concert was canceled because one member of the band wasn't feeling well. We thought, "Wimp!" Our opinion changed the next day when we heard he had died.

Anyway, I still have never been there for a concert, (Hell, I've only been to 4 music concerts in my life), but I learned that there is a Viet Nam memorial there.

I got to the area shortly before sunset, and figure it's as good place as any to stretch my legs. I was struck by the beauty and reverence, and felt I had to share.

In this photo, the Arts center is the white circle at the top. The Viet Nam Memorial is the white circle at the bottom. An old family cemetery is in the teardrop near the memorial. The black circle to the right is the education center / museum.

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The remaining pictures say everything.

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Compelling. Thanks for sharing.

DJ -

Thank you for posting this.

I was asked to be a tour guide for the Memorial. I couldn't do it. It was too emotional for me.

I visit the memorial twice a year, Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Sadly, I know about eight names on the panels. These were guys that I went to school and grew up with. I make it a point to see their names on the panels each time I go. I look at them and say to myself 'why not me.' You see, I am also a VN vet.

I was in the infantry with the 1sr Air Cav. I was in many ambushes and firefights. There were too many helicopter air and combat assaults to count.

I'm still involved with some vets and have helped some get the disability compensation that they are entitled to for medical and psychological problems. They earned it.

With the help of a loving and supporting wife and family I have survived but DAMN IT, I'm still fighting that war. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of what I saw and did.
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"One of the paradoxes of war is that those in the rear want to get up into the fight, while those in the lines want to get out."----Ernie, Pyle, American war correspondent (1900-1945)

FYI -

Take a look at the aerial view. Look at the memorial in the lower left. Just above it, to the right between the memorial and the education center is a green field. It is 'tear drop' shaped. It was designed that way.

Geezus -

It was relative peacetime in 1977 when I turned 18, so I never served. But I appreciate those that did. Thanks.

Sorry to hear that you know some of the names on those panels.

For those that didn't look too closely, around the perimeter are 366 panels, one for each day of the year, engraved with the names of NJ Vets that died on that day. Some of the panels are blank. Sadly, most are not.

I took pictures of the panel for July 4th, because it seems so ironic, and the panel for Christmas. Even though I'm Jewish, I get choked up by many of the more emotional episodes of M*A*S*H. In particular is the episode where Hawkeye, BJ and Margaret help prolong a dying man's life so that, as family man BJ put it, "so his kids wouldn't have to think of Christmas as the day their daddy died." That inspired me to take a picture of the Christmas panel. Unfortunately, it is not one of the blank panels.

This was the first time I took pictures there. As such, I paid particular attention to some of the details. I made special efforts on the camera angle on the last shot, because the artist also paid attention to details. Note the hand of the soldier standing. He's married.

This was not my first visit to the memorial. I almost always stop there, if I'm heading home from AC during the daytime. Funny, but I've never been there when I wasn't alone, or when there were other people there. If you're heading there again this Memorial Day, let me know. If possible, I'd like to meet you there to thank you in person.


FYI: I had mentioned that there is an old family cemetary within the teardrop, but had failed to make the connection that the teardrop shape was deliberate. Thanks for that.


And thanks for serving.