March 30, 2012

10. Marion Veterans Park

I found my self drawn to the peacefulness of the seldom visited park across the the Harding Memorial. On my way home from work, on Friday, I decided to visit it and look around. I was surprised on how many memorials there where. I remember as a teenager, for a photography class, I took picture of statues. One statue that I focused on was the Doughboy statue. But I didn’t explore the park much, because I realize how “new” the park seemed to me.

It is sad that I had never visited it before this time. I drive by it every day when I go to work as well as when I come home.

There were a lot of monuments commemorating wars long forgotten. There were some new ones that commemorating newer ones like the Persian Gulf war, and the Global War on Terrorism. At the Persian Gulf War memorial there was a white Holy Bible in plastic at the base of it. It touched my heart that someone left it there. It had a long quote from Norman Schwarzkopf. I liked the very end.

“Our cause is just! Now you must be the thunder and lightning of Desert Storm.” ~General Norman Schwarzkopf.

Almost every bench was dedicated in memory of someone. There was a beautiful “Freedom” tree. It seemed like a very lonely place and sad place. It started to sprinkle a little bit of rain, but that didn’t chase me off. I guess I felt it was a lonely and sad place because it isn’t a park that you would want to visit all the time. This is a place to commemorate where people gave their lives so that we might have freedom. I made me sad, nevertheless. I know my good friend, J., whose husband in over seas now in Afghanistan, and just went back after a 2 week leave, struggles with his absence everyday. I never realize how hard it might be until I have seen her struggling with missing him.

It really puts a lot into perspective for me, when I see it that way. I am ashamed that I have been very selfish with my life in that regard at times. My life isn’t all that bad, now that I see this park as well as remember what my friend goes through.

I know around Memorial day and the 4th of July, the park has a ring of tiny flags around the walk ways. I will be certain to visit again and reflected on those people that still fight for freedom and those that lost their lives for it.

It was a very humbling walk for me, as I explored this “new” place in my city.