Monday Afternoon, March 10th- Finally, it is our turn. We drive north on Highway 1, then turn inland through the town of Que Son. I am nervous and excited at the same time. My flowers sit in the front of the bus as we start climbing the mountains between Que Son and Antenna Valley.
Whenever I thought of this place called Antenna Valley, I envisioned a place full of darkness and death. I could see myself looking down on the helicopter, seeing the confusion of scared but determined men. This was a place of pain. On March 10, 2003, almost 34 years later to the day, I saw my first glimpse of Antenna Valley as we drove through a pass in the Que Son Mountains. I was looking down at a peaceful, green valley. A quiet stream ran across the valley floor.
Our drivers took us down the mountain and to the village of Dai Phong, near where my father's helicopter had crashed. We were immediately attracted to the stream. While we could not pinpoint the exact crash site, the stream seemed to represent the flow of life. Ed and I walked down the bank. As we stood beside the stream, a woman working in her vegetable garden nearby sang quietly to herself. Some kids brought their water buffalo across the stream and tethered them on the bank.
Connie and Gayle joined us on the bank of the stream. Connie was ten when my father died. She was very close to my family. Her mother and father decided that she should not attend my father's funeral. This trip is important to her as well. I am glad to have her and Gayle along on this trip. We ask Terry to take pictures of us. Even though this is an emotional time, we are so glad to be here that it is hard not to smile.
We decide that the stream is the ideal symbol and setting for our remembrance. Ed and Gayle light the incense that we have brought. We honor the memory of my father in Buddist fashion. Holding the incense to our hearts, we bow three times- once for the sky, once for the earth and once for man. We place the incense on the bank.
One by one, I drop the flowers down into the stream and watch as they float away.
As the last flower drifts away, Connie is downstream taking pictures.
As I turn away from the stream, I see one small purple flower that has fallen out of the bouquet. One small purple flower has stayed on the bank. We put the flower with the incense. It will stay here as a token of the Purple Team and of my father's spirit.
Ed, as always, is very supportive and caring. His respect for my father and his devotion to country and family is always a part of our relationship. Ed poses with the book of pictures and memories of dad and my family that I have put together.
The local people from the village of Dai Phong have started to gather to see what is going on.
The village of Dai Phong
An elder woman comes down and tells Connie about her memories of seeing the helicopters come into the valley. She shows us the path of their flight over the mountains. She remembered the hard days of war that I had imagined. But today we could stand in this valley in peace and beauty; we could send our flowers of remembrance down the stream. Later, Connie takes our picture.
Connie has brought cookies to give to the local children. When my father was in Vietnam, Connie baked cookies for him. Her package came back as "Undeliverable" some time later. He was killed in action before the package arrived.
Finally, it was time to leave. We still had many miles to travel to our hotel. We left with happy memories of this beautiful place and the desire to visit again.
Antenna Valley, where my father, Major Leroy I. Blankenship, gave the ultimate sacrifice.
After a long trip back over the mountain pass and through the village of Que Son, we arrive at our evening stop in Hoi An. Our hotel is fabulous. Our room has tiled floors, wooden shutters on the windows and mosquito netting over the beds.
This evening, we go to the silk shop and order custom-made clothing. It is fun to pick the beautiful fabrics. Everything that we order will be sewn tonight and delivered to our hotel in the morning before we leave. After shopping, Connie, Gayle and I have spring rolls and cocktails in the bar. We are too hungry to wait for the excellent dinner that we will have later! After dinner, we turn in for the night. It has been a busy day. Tomorrow, we travel to Hue, the ancient Imperial City.
| Ed and Harvest Go To Vietnam | Leaving Los Angeles | Saigon | Reunification Palace | Mekong Delta | Nui Ba Den & Cau Dai Temple |
| The Cu Chi Tunnels | Nha Trang to Qui Nhon | Phuoc Lam to Quang Ngai | Chu Lai to An Phuoc | Hue | Dong Ha, Lang Vei, Khe Sahn and the DMZ |
| Hai Van Pass & DaNang | Memorial Service | Hanoi | Joint Task Force and the Hanoi Hilton |
| Other Teams and Their Itineraries | Project RENEW | Email us! |