Just an old Oak memorial

I had some free time before a party I was to photograph so stopped off at a geocache near by and was surprised to see a memorial in its place to boot. Here's a few images I took on this cold rainy day,if your in the area stop on by on Highland Springs Road also called the Patriot tree on google maps (N Highland Springs Ave, Beaumont, CA 92223)

(the poem on the tree reads)

“I grew up here all alone; you know, so spindly, small and frail,

‘Twas nicer here way back then, a horse and buggy trail

By the side of this country lane, I stood only four foot high,

I hardly got a sideways glance from folks a passing by

                         I am an oak, a scraggly oak, not mighty and not tall,

I’m approaching 80 years; I’ll be 80 in the fall...

‘Twas first a flag, then two more, I did not understand

And then I heard the prayers of those come praying hand in hand,

Each flag is for a mother’s son who went to meet the call,

I’ve seen the tears and heard the prayers for those who gave their all,

And so my job, both night and day, protect these many flags

Shads those who come to mourn their loss and do the best I can

I’m proud to be out here, there are no other trees to guard the many flags that,

Stand and flutter in the breeze.”

In the Garden of Angels

Todays I headed to Beaumont California to photograph a party finished early and head towards home traffic was abit of a mess has the rain brought out the ignorant drivers.So I pulled off and drove to Desert Lawn memorial cemetery has its been on my list to see the Garden of Angels.There was a real sadness to the place but only a sadness to those lost and abandoned children whom this was made for.The rest was a feeling of what a beautiful place and what a wondeful way to give life back to those that have been abandoned.While I was there about 4 others cars pulled in to see the garden which is very small,tho the cemetery itself is quite big and with many old markers and points of interest.I took many images and will be posting another post on the garden and the surroundings in a future post.Cheers folks

Terminal Island Japanese Memorial

In San Pedro there is a memorial that is abit outta the way from everything else,the only reason to be in the area is if you work there or doing abit of urbex site seeing (wink wink).I met up with explorer Bryan of Sobaire photography,after walking around for abit we came upon the memorial by chance.

Some of the boats looked abandoned

Furusato the lost Japanese Village a history of what terminal island looked like and why this memorial stands.(link to website at bottom of post)

Erected in 2002 by artist Henery Alvarez 

Black Current off our shore

Fishes so plentiful

yet,hardships parents endured

we remember

and honor forever

our village no more

The detail is wonderful on the bronze statues 

Up until ww2 the island was in full operation many worked and lived on the island,in Febuary 27th 1942 the military took many of the people away to internment camps places like "Manzanar" which is now a museum off highway 395 and still on my list of places to see,they have a museum and other points of interest.Once everyone was gone the land was bulldozed and nothing remained except fisheries of which some people returned to after being release after january 2nd 1945.

the culture and history of Furusato was lost until the terminal islanders club was established in 1971

Seeing this small memorial I didnt think much I new I should photograph it,after looking up the history of the island and how it relates to Manzanar this small memorial makes my future trip that more exciting to see.

Please have a look at this website below
http://www.terminalisland.org/Archive/default.htm