While honeymooning in the Tuscan region of Italy some years back, the Grill-Meister and I stumbled on the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial. Thus began our fascination and respect for the beautiful reminders of the cost of peace that are managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). They are special places, and we’d like to visit as many as we can. In professional career (knowledge management and social learning), I’ve had the opportunity to meet the Knowledge Management Chief for the ABMC, a tiny little woman who is a bundle of energy, warmth and intelligence, and her passion and drive for ensuring that these monuments can continue to “tell their stories” made me respect them all the more. You can read about the ABMC here.
So far, we’ve only made it to two of the monuments managed by the ABMC: Florence and Cambridge (in the UK). In both places, we spent hours quietly walking among the graves, reading the plaques, absorbing the history. I’m sharing a few of our photos here to commemorate Memorial Day and all that it means. When we make it to some of the others – and we will – I’ll share those, too.
Florence
Cambridge
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Finding this site made all the work I did to find it look like nothing. The reason being that this is such an infvmratioe post. I wanted to thank you for this informative read of the subject. I definitely savored every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
Happy to have you on board. We have a great bunch of very smart regular readers here who help contribute. By checking out the comments, you can often find very interesting stories.
I did some work at a Veteran’s National Cemetery. The committal shelter was directly behind the columbarium we were building. We ceased work several times most days during the committal services. It was a sobering experience. At the same time we were building the mausoleum a new area of the cemetery was being developed. Hundreds of new concrete crypts were being placed in the excavated hillside to be covered over and planted with grass. Individual crypts would be excavated later as needed. As I said, sobering.
Wow, I can only imagine the thoughts that would go through your mind when you paused the building to respect the somberness of the proceedings. I think there’s a poem to be born out of your story; perhaps it will come to me if I sit with it for a while. Thank you so much for sharing your experience, which taught me something (in addition to the empathy of imagining what it would be like to work as you described). I had never heard the word columbarium and had to look it up.
Many of the services were attended by the Patriot Guard Riders. It was awe and pride inspiring witnessing the long line of motorcycles emblazoned with flags arriving.
That gives me even more of a mental picture!
What a beautiful image. It speaks of honor, and gratitude, how the past is always with us, and the longing for those who made that ultimate sacrifice. I visited your blog and appreciate the service you are providing.
West is newly elected — Cain has no political background at all. I hear what you say about “not poliitcians” but in reality I think you have to have some experience in some office to be a serious contender for the presidency. Regarding the last 3 presidents, I think GW’s indulgences were behind him by the time he ran for Texas gov. He did some bonehead stuff during his 8 years, but I would not compare him to Clinton or Obama.
Thank you, Cady. I’m interested in your perspective. Why was this meaningful tdo you? What are the stories from your family or life that should be shared?
Thank you, Cady. I am very interested in why this is meaningful to you. What are your stories? What tales on this subject does your family have to tell? One thing I have learned after starting to blog is thatvtherecare so many interesting and enlightening stories out there.