When last I left you, I was in Kentucky and had shown you some items from Frankfurt/Lexington. After spending the night in far eastern Kentucky I headed north to Pennsylvania but via West Virginia. Just so you get a feel for the length and breadth of this journey I will have traveled to 12 states (some more than once) and about 4000 miles!! Okay I scooted over to Charleston, West Virginia to several memorials but most specifically the state veterans memorial on the capitol grounds and it really was worth the trip and is very attractive. This very large memorial includes statues representing the military branches and a list of those from West Virginia who gave their lives in the wars of the 20th century. For me, however what is particularly striking are two plaques that are included here. One lists all of the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from the small state of West Virginia and the other plaque lists those killed in the small wars/actions of the last 30 or so years including the Beirut, Desert Storm, and Panama. This second list is actually very unusual. These actions which had small loss of life for the U.S. are often forgotten in remembrances around the nation and so again for such a small state to have so many names listed here surprised and touched me. 
I now headed north toward Pennsylvania but not on the interstate but the beautiful river road on the Ohio-West Virginia border! The scenery was gorgeous and such a pleasant drive; this day would also include a number of bridges as does the whole trip. 
My next major stop was Pittsburgh and I must say this is a difficult city to drive in as all the roads seem to go straight up or down major hills! The roads twist and turn as much anything in San Francisco and the roads are very narrow. In fact I thought my GPS was sending me down some alleys, but I did manage to find some great views. 
I'd like to give a little perspective here about my journeys to memorials. I have become adept at finding them in small towns - I can usually spot pretty quickly and in larger cities they tend to be located either on high ground areas that offer scenic overviews of the city, or in major city parks or on city hall/state capitol grounds. They are also often home to those in our society who are without shelter, or in older parts of the city (not always the best neighborhoods). So my travels have afforded me interesting city tours from the most beautiful to the most forgotten sections of cities. Pittsburgh offers a great example of this dichotomy. The Peabody Boys memorial was erected to honor those Pittsburgh boys from the Peabody School who served and lost their lives in WWI; this memorial is in bad shape, however, the school property is now part of a theological school in a fairly rough area of the city. Many pass by this forlorn statue not realizing nor remembering these brave young men who gave so much for their country in a time of need. It is these kinds of forgotten or unusual commemorations that I want to capture and help the world to see. 
From here I drove onto the beautiful although cramped campus of Duquesne University. After trying to navigate the small twisting streets (yes on major hills), I found a campus map posted and while searching for my destination, a kind campus cop stopped and provided me with clear directions -- just pull forward 50 feet and it was around the corner! The lovely memorial is dedicated to those from Duquesne that have served in our nation's wars. Hopefully the students as they go to class each day do take notice. 
After finally escaping Pittsburgh, my goal was an unusual memorial in nearby Greensburg that is dedicated to a local unit, the 14th Quartermaster Detachment that suffered a large number of casualties when their barracks in Dharahan, Saudi Arabia was struck by a scud missile during Desert Storm; they suffered the largest number of casualties of any unit during Desert Storm. The site is moving as it reminds one that while Desert Storm was short and seemed to be rather benign, for some it left a lasting impression. 
As I headed to south central Pennsylvania, I encountered one of the few difficult stretches of my trip as I became trapped on the Pennsylvania turnpike! The traffic was horrible and their were NO exits; the flow stopped and started for no apparent reason -- no accidents nor construction and this went for about 75-80 miles! Strangely enough I was listening to a podcast from the Pritzker Military Library with the author of a new book on US treatment of POWs throughout our history and I must tell you this reinforced my mindset that I was a prisoner of this stupid highway! I finally made my escape and headed toward Gettysburg where I was able to visit the battlefield site in the evening before the sun set (and with many fewere people). Again my good fortune that I was at Gettysburg just a day or two after the anniversary of this key Civil War battle. The impending dusk enhanced the eeriness of the place; I have visited a number of battlefields but Gettysburg sits amid the town and so historical markers, commemorations and businesses all mingle together in many places. 
On this hallowed ground stretch marker after marker commemorating the action or movement of many, many individual units. The auto tour winds through miles of markers and signposts that provide the hour-by-hour ebb-and-flow of the battle and the cemetery reminds one of the lives those movements cost.
After a long day and good night's sleep, I began the next day with a trip to Carlisle Barracks and the Army War College and the Army Heritage Center - places that I have heard so much about both from former professors who taught here as well as the Carlisle connection to Native Americans. The Heritage Center is located near the Carlisle Barracks Army base and provides a great collection of historical documents and information about the army and includes an exhibit to Omar Bradley. There were also several unit memorials scattered on the Army Heritage Trail which runs alongside the Army War College golf course which is not open to the public, although I was able to take a few pictures . 
While I was allowed to drive through the Carlisle Barracks site in order to see the Army War College, pictures were not allowed although I did snap a single shot of the parade ground statue. 
My next stop was the capitol city of Harrisonburg and what a beauty. The memorials here are mainly located upon the scenic river front area that contains a large park and walking trails. The surprise is a memorial commemorating all those lost on US submarines in World War II! While it is along the river, I could not figure the connection between Harrisonburg and the subs; they were not built here nor do I remember there being a training base. The memorial lists each submarine that was lost and the number of men in each submarine. 
From Harrisonburg, I quickly drove over to the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. This is not a very scenic cemetery like most of those I have visited, and I admit that I do not care for the cemeteries that use the flat headstone for easier upkeep and maintenance. The beauty and solemnity is lost when you look out across a barren field and in this case because of dry conditions, brown grass and shrubs. Nothing catches the eye or brings a catch to your breath like rows of headstones or crosses as they help one to actually get a feel for the lives they represent. What is stunning at Indiantown Gap, however is the HUGE Veterans Memorial built here. The architecture is very unique with a modernistic take on a bombed out house symbolic of destruction in World War II. 
The site even contains a small amphitheatre for special events. 
My final stop for the day was HERSHEY! Yes this chocoholic could not resist a night at the historic Hershey hotel with a round of golf on the historic course that abuts the Hershey plant. The area was having a big heatwave and most of the northern golfers feared the heat (it was about 95). This Texan felt right at home and so I played a round of afternoon golf after my morning work. The course is gorgeous and challenging with many elevation changes. The course workers were having some problems with the heat, however with 2 of the cart girls' carts breaking down and all the ice melting. I must say it was no worse than a good round of golf in 100+ degree heat in Texas -- just drink plenty of water! I did pretty well by shooting and 80 too!
I then spent the night at the beautiful Hershey hotel where they drench you in chocolate (including a candy bar of your choice on check in) and chocolate spa treatments. I finished this long day with a room delivery of milk and cookies -- the most popular item. 
From Hershey, I head back to work and head north as well -- pretty far north and then to the US Military Academy at West Point! So stay tuned.
