Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Sepia Scenes: Korean War Memorial


Last week when we were visiting our son in Arlington, Virginia we wanted to visit a few memorials in DC. My son and his wife said they would like to take us to the Korean War Memorial which was one of their favorites. They felt it was more impressive at night. I found it a very somber experience in the dark. The nineteen stainless steel sculptures are just a little larger than actual human form. It really gave me the feeling I was standing off watching them on their patrol. A nearby granite wall bears a message inlaid in silver:
Freedom Is Not Free.


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35 comments:

JunieRose2005 said...

Very impressive!

I would love to visit there>


Junie

Raven said...

Wow... that really is dramatic. Great shots.

Rose said...

These images are kind of haunting...and the message you speak of is one that is so true. One I think we sometimes all forget till we really think about it.

Melli said...

That IS an awesome memorial... nice shots too!

Melli said...

Oh! I mean to ask... are you going to play the scavenger hunt on THIS blog or your photo blog? ( I just want to make sure I link to the right one.)

maryt/theteach said...

Yes, Carletta, and our armed forces have to pay the price. A very emotional shot. thanks for participating. :)

annalarssonphotography said...

Gripping!
Almost haunting.

I can hear them walk and I can fear.

Gorgeous shots!

George said...

These pictures are hauntingly beautiful. I've seen the Korean War monument, but not at night.

Anonymous said...

I would love to see that. Wonderful pictures...they are just beautiful my friend. Makes you stop and think about our service men and women :) Aloha

kayerj said...

my dad is a korean war veteran. We visited the war memorial a couple of years ago. I found the reflection of the soldiers in the black granite wall hauntingly beautiful.

kayerj said...

I'm back after realizing you viewed it in the dark. Were you able to see the etchings in the black granite wall? They are faces of soldiers Korean and American as well as civilians; men, women and children. They represent the lives lost during the war. It is something to stand there gazing at those faces that look back at you like forgotten ghosts wavering just out of view. The statues on patrol are also caught in the reflection, making everything rather eerie. The heighth of the soldiers is imposing as well. It was my favorite monument too.

Tom said...

Very well done... I have really enjoyed my visiting today...

Patti said...

Wonderful and dramatic photos, especially in sepia tones, That must have been so moving to see in the dark.

I'm not playing Sepia Scenes this week, but stop by anyway (like you have nobody else to visit!)

I can't seem to keep up.

Julie said...

Perfect photo for sepia. Very moody.

Ralph said...

The bronze gives the tired and even maybe frightened soldiers a poignancy, the look of shock. Where are we and why are we here? The Korean War does seem to be forgotten, this monument important to show those who do not know that the human costs to war are real. Too real...

Annie Jeffries said...

There are several reasons to visit D.C. The Korean War Memorial (my dad) and the Viet Nam War Memorial (my husband). Then there is the WW II memorial (my dad was at Pearl Harbor on the Nevada). So much to see there. These photos are somber and haunting.

Melli said...

Carletta... I don't THINK the bead store is still there. Karen is a beader, and I think she mentioned that it's not. (but maybe it just moved... you could check the directory...)

kden said...

those are wonderful. My 14 y/o daughter was there earlier this summer, also at night. Her pics did not turn out well so I'm glad your are showing them. She also saw the granite wall Kaye was talking about. She was impressed by the whole thing.

Dimple said...

These are striking in sepia, the stainless looks bronze. But there are too many wars to remember.

Rambling Woods said...

That is very striking in sepia Carletta....

MaR said...

Very impressive shots and memorial.
I like the quote...
Thanks for your kind words on my blog, Carletta, I truly appreciate that :)

Small City Scenes said...

That is very striking and somber. I remember the Korean War. I was in grade school but it was the first war we followed in school. In fact my future husband was on a big ship stationed on the coast of Korea (south I suppose). Of course I met him much later. MB

Janice Thomson said...

Sepia really adds a haunting and vintage look to these photos - well done Carletta!

Gattina said...

That really looks scary ! especially in sepia colors !

Heidi said...

Visits like this really seem to stay with you. I feel that they teach us something that can change us for the better if we let it. I think that this would be a wonderful place to visit.
If you'd like to stop by my blog I'm at Cake Crumbs. </a

Craver Vii said...

My family loves to watch M.A.S.H. For better or worse, our minds are programmed to associate the Korean War with that program.

Freedom is not free. That is profoundly true. Thanks for the reminder.

Leora said...

Somber but beautiful.

Robin said...

This gave me chills.

Beautifully striking photos, and a powerful reminder of an important message.

Pat said...

Excellent pictures! They really are moving - especially in the sepia tone. We used to live in Virginia many moons ago, and would travel into DC just about every weekend to take advantage of the free museums and such, but we never went to this memorial. Looks like we missed out on a lot. Thanks for sharing these photos.

Bill S. said...

I have visited it twice and will visit it again in December. It is a memorial that will never grow old. Both times I have been there at night and it carries a spirit with it that demands respect. Thanks.

Hildegarde said...

Very impressive. Very "real looking" photography and then in sepia : real good work. Moving too.

Anonymous said...

I have seen this on a cold, dreary day and felt chills up my spine for the hardships these soldiers endured. It is, indeed, a powerful memorial. Your sepia scenes convince me: I will have to make a night-time trip into the city at some point.

moosh said...

Very moving the phots, the quote, and all the comments. Thanks for sharing.

Jientje said...

The sepia gives this just the right touch.

Leedra said...

I have been to the Korean Memorial during the day and it was very moving then, sure it would be more so at night.