On Sunday afternoon we drove to Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in downtown Phoenix. I had never been there (at least not that I can remember) and it was interesting. It's a big grassy park with lots of memorials, commemorating wars and fallen soldiers, fallen policemen, and other significant Arizonans.
Desert Storm Memorial
Ten Commandments (which the ACLU unsuccessfully tried to have removed a few years back)
Viet Nam Memorial
Actual anchor from the USS Arizona, on permanent loan from the Navy (along with a nice shot of the dry fountain)
Korean War Memorial
9/11 MemorialThis one went up in 2006 and I remember the controversy surrounding it. It looks pretty cool from a distance, and up close too, like how the sun shines through the cut-out words above.
But there are enough policitally-charged statements that I understand the controversy completely... it would have been nice to stick with neutral facts. But, it is a pretty cool memorial anyway.
Unfortunately we were there the day after a big anti-1070 (new AZ illegal immigration law) rally. So every trash can was overflowing and stinky, and there were several signs lying around left over from the rally.
They want an education. (Aren't there schools in other countries?)
(That giant ring in the background is the 9/11 memorial.)
The kids were interested until they got too hot, tired, and thirsty... we walked around the park for probably an hour, and it was 95 degrees out, but come on. There was even a bit of a breeze and occasional shade to stand in. The kids' whining was a little ironic given that we were commemorating people who had it SLIGHTLY harder than them.
We decided they should use some of the empty space in the park to set up a new memorial; one to commemorate our poor sweaty kids who had to be outside for an entire hour without water before they could get back into a well air-conditioned car on the way home to French Toast with caramel apple topping for dinner.
I'm still glad we went; it was very interesting (there are tons of other memorials that we didn't take pictures of) and hopefully helped the kids to learn a little bit about what Memorial Day is for.
They want an education. (Aren't there schools in other countries?)(That giant ring in the background is the 9/11 memorial.)
The kids were interested until they got too hot, tired, and thirsty... we walked around the park for probably an hour, and it was 95 degrees out, but come on. There was even a bit of a breeze and occasional shade to stand in. The kids' whining was a little ironic given that we were commemorating people who had it SLIGHTLY harder than them.
We decided they should use some of the empty space in the park to set up a new memorial; one to commemorate our poor sweaty kids who had to be outside for an entire hour without water before they could get back into a well air-conditioned car on the way home to French Toast with caramel apple topping for dinner. I'm still glad we went; it was very interesting (there are tons of other memorials that we didn't take pictures of) and hopefully helped the kids to learn a little bit about what Memorial Day is for.
I hope you're enjoying your weekend!
3 comments:
I know - my kids complain about how rough their life is. "We NEVER get ANYTHING good to eat!" "You always make us do SO MUCH work!" Poor mistreated kids...
What a great thing to do. We drove to Coronado to look at the air craft carriers. Not exactly a Memorial Day activity, but kinda. :)
Awesome commentary! I've always hated when my kids do that too. My kids never would have been able to be pioneer children. They complain when they don't get 3 breakfasts before 9:00! Seriously...TOUGHEN UP!!
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