Sick and disappointed

I’m up in Bismarck, ND today. I rented a car from Pittsburgh because I’m too sick to take the rigors of Greyhound at the moment. Although I already miss riding the bus. The other reason is that I wanted to see some of the parks, specifically all the Lewis and Clark stuff, that’s around here.

While this sickness is frustrating and disappointing I think the biggest disappointment so far has been the National World War II memorial. After finding myself unexpectedly moved by the Vietnam War memorial I walked over to the WWII memorial. It’s an oval with semi-circles of tall pillars representing the states on either end. The two ends represent the “Atlantic” and Pacific theaters of war. In the middle is a pool with fountains.

It feels like it was built by a committee. It has trite words from famous leaders about the sacrifices made etched around the monument. I found myself filling with anger as I read those lines. Who are these people of privilege that are talking about making sacrifice? I want to hear from the real people that fought in the war. In order to make the war fit thematically into the monument they use the term “Atlantic.” I’ve always heard the non-Pacific theater referred to as the European theater. The monument does not imbue one with the sense of reverence and awe that it should.

The WWII monument is derivative of a Civil War monument at Gettysburg done with a similar theme, the semi-circle of pillars representing the states. Right here in Bismarck, ND they have a wonderful veterans monument. It’s an open domed structure with a dais in the middle with a globe of the earth on it. Radiating from the center are bronze plaques of the names of every veteran of ND from every war. On the 11th day, of the 11th month at the 11th hour the monument is built so the sun illuminates the globe to remind us of the sacrifices made at the last possible moment to turn the tide.

Also one can head West into Montana and visit the Battle of Little Bighorn battlefield, Custer’s last stand. It’s the only US battlefield monument to leave the soldiers were they fell and put up markers. Hundreds of these fill the six mile long field, and it’s powerful. They also have an effective indian memorial there.