I received my (early out) military discharge from the U.S. Navy in December of 1971 after serving 3 years, 10 months and 22 days of what I had thought were the worst days of my life. It took the rest of my life to realize that what I had learned in those years is what had kept me alive all these years. As I slowly walked around the The Nevada State Veterans Memorial I found it hard to click my camera shutter at times as each of the 18 statues seemed to call up memories of the men that I had served with and my hometown friends that had served and died in the same war that I had served through. The names and faces of men that I thought I hated being around in those days came flooding back into my mind, - and I missed them.
Since May of 2016 the Nevada State Veterans Memorial, Las Vegas has honored the heroism and spirit of those who have served in the military of the United States of America. The memorial is located on the grounds of the Grant Sawyer State Building at 555 East Washington Ave., just north of downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Nevada State Veterans Memorial recognizes the service and sacrifice of Americans, especially Nevada veterans and their families who have or will answer the call of duty. The two-acre memorial and park featuring 18 statues of soldiers, from the Revolutionary War to the Global War on Terror and civilians sits on the grounds of the Grant Sawyer State Building, a government office building located at 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV. 89101. The sculptor of the statues is Douwe Blumberg. His website is (http://www.douwestudios.com/news/) here. The organizations responsible for Installation: American Shooters, Inc. and the Las Vegas Veterans Memorial Foundation.. The memorial serves to honor the heroism and spirit of those who have, and will, answer the call of duty.
This memorial made me think of all the men and women I have known that served to keep America strong and free, and all of their sacrifices. It made me realize that simply serving in the military is a mark of bravery.
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My name is Keith Birmingham. I click as a photographer, journalist and writer. I busk as a musician, singer, and songwriter. I travel as a photojournalist and musician. My home base is Las Vegas, Nevada. I own Better World Media, a company dedicated to my life passions of music, photography, and travel. I invite you to subscribe to my blog at Better World Media.
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