My Memorial
Posted on May 26, 2009 - Filed Under My Work
Yesterday was Memorial Day, and I have someone to remember. His name is Roger Cobb Hallberg, and his name was on the POW bracelet I wore as a teenager. While I was dating and going to Disneyland, he was fighting, and then disappearing, in the jungle maze of Vietnam. A brave young newlywed just vanished.
For years I waited and watched lists of returning vets to see his name. Twice I have visited the Vietnam Memorial in Washington. At the long black wall I find his name and see his status. MIA. He is one of 2266 soldiers still unaccounted for in that conflict. Imagine the families living with that.
I have kept the bracelet all these years, and have long wanted to do something to honor Roger. Then Kim Rae Nugent asked me to contribute to her book and one of the projects was working with a maze. The idea came to me right away. What was more a maze than Vietnam?
The book is a box, a sort of temple covered with papers I painted. It is intended to look geographic and cosmic, as he is somewhere, we just don’t know exactly where.
Inside are five panels. The US flag is overlaid with a map of Vietnam on the first. The second is Roger’s name on the wall in D.C. The third is a map of approximately where he went missing. The fourth is my bracelet with his name on it, and two stories. The top story is the military account of Roger’s last known day. The bottom story is what I was likely doing that day, when Roger disappeared protecting his men.
In the center is Roger Cobb Hallberg and his military biographical information. The helicopter is like the one that came to rescue him, and did not find him.
I remembered Roger yesterday, and today, and I will tomorrow. My dream would be that somehow every single MIA is accounted for. Every single one.
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This is an awesome memorial! Absolutely wonderful.
I, too, wore one of those bracelets – through my college years, though I’ve long since misplaced it. Thank you for continuing to remember your POW. Hopefully, one day there will be answers for all of our MIA/POW’s.
A thoughtful and moving piece Jill. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Jill.
Jill, what a rich piece. Thank you for bringing it to life.
The name my bracelet was one of the fortunate ones to return ALIVE – he was a POW instead of yours an MIA. I still have my bracelet anyway as a reminder. I think the family of your soldier would be proud to see how you have honored him.
Hi Jill, What a thoughtful tribute to a soldier MIA. Very moving piece. Thank you for posting. It’s just beautiful.
Jill–I think you should send your comments and pictures to his family. It’s a wonderful tribute to him
I am speachless and very touched with your art. So many of our young men left behind and so many not forgotten. So many returning not appreciated or thanked for their service to our nation.
Thank you for sharing your art.
Blessings,
Kat
I SO remember those bracelets! I never had one but so many of friends in high school had them (I graduated in 1977).
Your tribute to Sgt Hallberg is just absolustely gorgeous. You just did such a great job…thank you for sharing…your compassion and eloquence are so inspiring.
I am so touched with your memory of this young man.. so many were lost in that war, as I am sure in a lot of the wars.. My brother-in-law went down at sea and his family only have their memories of this young man who died for the freedom of our country…
Those men make me so proud of be a American and stand up for the values of this great country!