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Oregon
Serendipity visited me beneath the gun-metal gray clouds stalled above the Oregon Coast.
The Indian Casino, Chinook Winds, at Lincoln City, Oregon was just supposed to be a rest stop for the travelers on the Krinock family (My wife, Janet’s, side of the family) reunion bus. We were on our way to Moe’s a locally famous seafood restaurant.
The only photos I expected to take were of birds along the rock shoreline.
However, at his time of the year, mid-September, and for the last 16 years, the Casino hosts the Celebration of Honor. There is a permanent memorial to veterans -
and especially to Desert Storm veterans.
Each branch of the service is honored with one panel on the six-sided flag base.
But this week was special. The Oregon Vietnam Veterans Organization with a mini wall, reminiscent of the Wall in Washington D.C., saluted the fallen sons of Oregon so that they would not be forgotten.
Their travelling Wall not only has panels containing the names lost in Vietnam and one the USS Pueblo, but also sandstone panels with names of those lost in Panama, the bombing of Beirut, Desert Storm Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The sacrifice servicemen have made in Desert Storm is honored with a Battlefield Cross composed of boots, rifle, helmet and dog tags.
On the other side of the casino in an open field buffeted with Pacific Ocean winds, there is stand of American Flags.
Rather than count them, I asked the docent. He told me there are 755 flags flying in this traveling memorial. Another 225 are in the trailer unable to fly because of limited space. They are displayed because each flag has been dedicated to veteran by loved one so that he or she are remembered and never forgotten.
As I was about to board the bus, the wife of a retired Air Force medic pointed to a tent on the other side of the road. She mentioned it housed a wall to Afghanistan and Iraqi War KIA. This was the first time I had seen a dedication to these wars.
Meanwhile back at the Vietnam tribute, our host for the reunion, Kay, asked the Vietnam Veteran why her childhood friend, Donald Condit, was not on their Traveling Wall. After much discussion, the fact that he was first listed as MIA and then later repatriated, meant that the bureaucracy had not forward the necessary paper work for the name to be placed on the wall. Just another example of a military SNAFU.
Now I had to learn the whole story behind Lt. Condit. Kay insisted that we visit the Oregon Veterans Living Memorial in Portland to properly pay our respects. Once there she would tell me his story.
As we entered, the path spirals around a lower level upward to the walls identified by years and separated by about 70 feet. I counted 21 steps between walls.
As we entered, the path spirals around a lower level upward to the walls identified by years and separated by about 70 feet. I counted 21 steps between walls.
On the top face of the marble structures are descriptions of life in Vietnam during the intervening years.
Additional panels recount what was happening locally in Oregon and nationally in the US. The names of the fallen are underneath.
When Kay pointed to the chiseled Douglas A. Condit, she was in tears. Through her sobs she told me how much she loved her 7th grade boyfriend. She remembered wining a jitterbug competition with him, as well as, sitting on his roof making plans for the future. Douglas’s future was to join the Air Force and qualify as an F-4 pilot.
On a mission in the North, he dropped his bombs only to have them detonate upon release separating the wings from the fuselage. It took years to find his dog tags and little else to return to his family.
The sad part is that this mechanical malfunction was known, but the paper work hadn’t reached the right people in time. Another military SNAFU.
As we left the park, there was one last stone marker. It held the names of the Oregon servicemen who were MIA. Douglas A. Condit’s name was on that list. But there was an asterisk next to it. Of the 40 names only 10 had that asterisk. Our country is still waiting the others to be returned home.
This waiting period is symbolized by a table that was set up back in the tent near the casino.
The symbolism is explained in this guide:
The white tablecloth draped over the table represents the purity of their response to our country’s call to arms.
The empty chair depicts an unknown face, representing no specific Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine, but all who are not here with us.
The table itself is round to show that our concern for them is never ending.
The Bible represents faith in a higher power and the pledge to our country, founded as one nation under God.
The black napkin stands for the emptiness these warriors have left in the hearts of their families and friends. A Purple Heart medal can be pinned to the napkin.
The single red rose reminds us of their families and loved ones. The red ribbon represents the love of our country, which inspired them to answer the nation’s call.
The yellow candle and its yellow ribbon symbolize the everlasting hope for a joyous reunion with those yet accounted for.
The slices of lemon on the bread plate remind us of their bitter fate.
The salt upon the bread plate represent the tears of their families.
The wine glass, turned upside down, reminds us that our distinguished comrades cannot be with us to drink a toast or join in the festivities of the evening.
Our road trip ends back where we started in Lincoln City on the west coast of Oregon with a stop in Portland to view the memorial park. It was a solemn journey.