In Flanders Fields… Memorial Day 2020

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at Point Loma, San Diego, California.

In Flanders Fields

By John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

    That mark our place; and in the sky

    The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

        In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

    The torch; be yours to hold it high.

    If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

        In Flanders fields.

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“Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

Beaumont Veterans Memorial – A Personal Connection

Beaumont, California.

In the United States, September 11 is a day for reflecting on the services of our first responders and those veterans who serve and defend our country both here and in foreign lands. Throughout the country there are many veterans and first responder memorials, and so it is with Beaumont, California. The city of less than 50,000 residents is located east of the Los Angeles metro in Southern California. The plaque above is implanted in the sidewalk of a memorial that happens to have a personal connection with my family.

Downtown Disneyland

Anaheim, California.

A few weeks ago, I found myself in Anaheim, less than a mile from Disney’s Magic Kingdom. My work there precluded going to the park, yet somehow I was feeling I would be missing out if I didn’t spend some time in the land of the mouse. The Disney theme parks are not inexpensive so if that’s your destination, you need to consider the amount of time available and plan to spend several hours there. For those of us who simply didn’t have the time, we are fortunate that in 2001, after the construction of the second theme park and the Disneyland Resorts, a large promenade housing restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues provided enough of a taste of Disney to satisfy me.

Cellpic Sunday – 9 September 2018

Santa Ana, California.

Last week on Cellpic Sunday I featured an image of the Anaheim Convention Center. I was in that neighborhood for our annual Civil Air Patrol National Conference. The nearest airport is in Santa Ana, John Wayne Airport (SNA) was designated as the departure and arrival airport. As is my usual practice, I always show up at the airport well over an hour prior to boarding, often two hours ahead of time. I prefer to arrive at the airport, go through security, and overspend on coffee or breakfast at my leisure content that I will be sitting in the gate area reading in plenty of time to board my aircraft.

Cellpic Sunday – 2 September 2018

Anaheim, California.

Last week, the Civil Air Patrol National Conference took us to Anaheim, California. Though our hotel was a short walk from Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom, I didn’t have any time to visit. Our hotel was located next to the Anaheim Convention Center. The classic steel and glass architecture was built in 1967 and over the years, it went through six major expansions. This entrance is flanked by a Marriott Hotel on one side and a Hilton Hotel on the other. The other entrance on Katella Avenue is directly across from the Disneyland Resort.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Solitude

This week, Jen H. asks us to show what being alone means to us. Nothing is more soothing to me than a walk on the beach. In the image above, a lone pelican appears to be relaxing and enjoying the view of the islands in the Pacific Ocean just off shore at Ixtapa, Mexico.

Weekly Photo Challenge – State of Mind

 

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.

San Diego, California

This week, Ben Huberman asks us to share a photo that reflects our state of mind at the time the photo was taken. From his challenge post, “You can often tell my mood state just by looking at an image I took during that period of time.” You can read the entire challenge post here. 

La Jolla Cove – San Diego’s Most Photographed Beach

 La Jolla, California.

Pronounced La Hoy-ah, this photographer who grew up in California was at least a dozen years old when I realized that La Jolla and La Hoya were the same place. OK, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much.

On the day we visited the Cove at La Jolla, I don’t know who had the greater population, the people or the birds.

Point Loma – Cabrillo’s Discovery

San Diego, California.

In 1542, the Spanish Galleon San Salvador left Mexico to explore the western edge of the continent. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s exploration along what is now the United States shoreline traveled as far north as Oregon. Cabrillo himself, though didn’t complete the voyage. He died on San Miguel Island, off the coast of Santa Barbara, from complications of a broken leg.

Coronado Island – Iconic Resort Retreat

San Diego, California.

Four rocky islands attracted Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino in 1602. He named them Las Yslas Coronadas, then, despite an earlier explorer’s discovery named the bay on the main continent San Diego de Alcala. His discovery would become a major tourist attraction. Over a mile of pristine beach on the island attracted developers by the mid-1800s. Lots were sold and cottages and houses were built.