Reviewing Veterans Tribute Park

 Last week I visited a park that was new to me.  It opened in October 2018.  It is located on Kisker Drive in Weldon Springs Missouri.  It is an 120 acre park with lots of wonderful features.

Park Features

The park is loaded with features for every age group.  They include:

• Two Lakes where you can enjoy a nice stroll or go fishing.
• A Dog Park
• Playground
• A Great Trail System for those who like to hike.  
• Storybook Walk   This trail is designed for parents and kids who love to read.  Book pages are posted at various stations along the trail, so you can read a book while you take a walk.
• Picnic Shelters

In addition, it has two of my favorite features- the Veterans Memorial Plaza and flowers which I will tell you about in more detail in the sections below.

Veterans Memorial Plaza

Veterans Memorial Plaza is a beautiful area that honors Veterans from the St. Charles County area that have given the ultimate sacrifice.  It includes a beautiful walk lined with flowers that lead to the Tribute Wall.  The tribute wall is a curved stoned wall engraved with names and has waterfalling over the wall.  After you see the wall, the walk continues up a slight incline and has stops from each of the conflicts from 1812 to the present day.  Each stop features a board that describes the conflict and, on the walk, in front of the board is a star on the sidewalk with the names of those residents of the county that died in that conflict.  It is a very moving feature of the park.

Lots of Beautiful Spring Flowers

I visited the park in early May and there were lots of beautiful flowers that lined the walkway to the Veterans Tribute.

Zazzle Products From my Photos

Two-toned Iris Beauties Two-Tone Coffee Mug
by mbgphoto

https://www.zazzle.com/inspirational_greeting_card-256580751976839042

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Legacy On Ice Memorial Tribute

The Legacy On Ice Memorial Tribute will be televised on Sunday, March 30 at 1 p.m. on NBC. Members and generations of the ice skating community gathered to honor and remember the athletes, families, coaches and mentors of their community who perished on Flight 5342 on January 29, 2025. 

Powerful, emotional, impactful viewing. As if the viewer has been invited into the close knit ice skating community to honor those lost and help support the community. 

The tribute was originally televised live and streamed on March 5th on Peacock. A Youtube tribute along with information for the family support fund is included below. 

Veterans of the skating community participated whether it be through hosting, introducing skaters or skating. Bookmark March 30th to view or record the tribute.

Participants as listed on the US Figure Skating Website

• Jeremy Abbott, 2014 Olympic Team Bronze Medalist
• Sofia Bezkorovainaya, 2024-25 Team USA
• Brian Boitano, 1988 Olympic Champion
• Emily Bratti and Ian Somerville, 2024 U.S. Bronze Medalists
• Jason Brown, 2014 Olympic Team Bronze Medalist
• Ashley Cain, Two-Time U.S. Pairs National Champion 
• Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko, Two-Time Four Continents Ice Dance Bronze Medalists 
• Kitty and Peter Carruthers, 1984 Olympic Pairs Silver Medalists 
• Molly Cesanek and Yehor Yehorov, 2020 U.S. Junior Pewter Medalists
• Nathan Chen, Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist
• Madison Chock and Evan Bates, 2022 Olympic Team Gold Medalists
• Richard Dwyer, U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Famer 
• Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, 2025 U.S. Pairs Champions 
• Sarah Everhardt, 2025 Four Continents Bronze Medalist
• Peggy Fleming, 1968 Olympic Champion 
• Amber Glenn, 2024 Grand Prix Final Champion
• Gracie Gold, 2014 Olympic Team Bronze Medalist 
• Scott Hamilton, 1984 Olympic Champion
• Nancy Kerrigan, 1994 Olympic Silver Medalist
• Ilia Kulik, 1998 Olympic Champion
• Isabeau Levito, 2024 World Silver Medalist 
• Alysa Liu, 2022 World Bronze Medalist
• Jimmy Ma, 2025 Four Continents Bronze Medalist 
• Ilia Malinin, 2024 World Champion
• Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman, 2025 U.S. Pairs Silver Medalists 
• Yebin Mok, 1998-2008 Team USA
• Maxim Naumov, 2025 U.S. Pewter Medalist
• Camden Pulkinen, Two-Time U.S. Bronze Medalist
• Andrew Torgashev, 2025 U.S. Silver Medalist
• Michael Weiss, Two-Time World Bronze Medalist
• Johnny Weir, Three-Time U.S. Champion
• Paul Wylie, 1992 Olympic Silver Medalist

The Youtube tribute

U.S Figure Skating Family Support Fund

A fund has been established for the families of the athletes, coaches and families who perished on January 29, 2025. Online donations accepted here.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

To All Those We Lost in 2021 - We Love You, Thank You

When I think back to 2020, for us, it was an easier year than 2021 ... and that's hard to believe.

There is one connection in life that truly matters; it's love. We take it with us.

My Mother Passed Away - If You Suffered Loss, My Heart is With You

My brothers and I shared the day and evening with my mother as she left in late November. It was the most beautiful and terrifying experience of my life. I compare it to birth for those very emotions.

As a little girl, I remember feeling so scared that my mother would die. I would ask to sleep with her when my dad traveled for work. When I was eight years old, I finally told her why - "I'm scared you're going to die, Mom."

As a grown woman with kids and grandkids, I somehow graduated out of that fear of losing my mom. I'm confused about how that happened - how did I lose that fear? I'm grateful for losing it but I am genuinely baffled by how I grew out of it. Since mom passed, I have had this strange feeling that she's with me (inside me), and I think that's the reason? It's weird.

On the night she passed, I broke down like an infant. They were the sobs I needed, and my brothers and my sister-in-law were there to hold me through it. We each had our moments, and the beautiful side is that my parents raised a family that got along and stood by each other. We're fortunate.

My Wish for Humanity - That 2022 Goes Easy on Us

We've all been challenged in unforeseen ways, some more than others. Despite the difficulties we've faced, including the loss of my mom, I'm the first to admit how fortunate my family is to have a roof over our heads, running water, plumbing, and electricity! There's so much unfairness and financial inequity in the world that those of us who live in a functioning society need to remember how blessed we are.

My hopes and dreams for all of us are inner peace, love, prosperity, and good health. May 2022 bring you balance in body, mind, and spirit.

Here's a song that beautifully honors all moms; this lyric resonates with me, "there's no safer place I've found than the shoulder on her white nightgown."

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. xoxo

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON: