The Second Life Veterans Tribute

 
By Bixyl Shuftan, 

Besides Thanksgiving, November is also known for Veterans Day in the United States. And every November, a group of volunteers set up the Veterans Tribute in honor of American vets, as well as veterans from other countries. The location varries year to year, and in 2021 it's at the Rainbow Dream sim. This year marks the fifteenth the Tribute has been around in Second Life.

Welcome to the 15th Annual SL Veteran’s Tribute for 2021.  This is the 15th annual Veteran’s Tribute that we have put together. 

The tribute will be open from November 1st through November 15th!

The Tribute itself is non-political and serves one purpose and one purpose only and that is to honor all the men and women that have given willing of their time to protect the lives we enjoy today.

The goal of the Tribute is to provide a non-political, content filled, educational, interactive SIM inside Second Life where men and women of all walks of life can visit and provide remembrance and honor to those who have served in the Armed Services.

The tribute operates on a zero dollar budget and is non-profit; the entire tribute is built, funded, organized and executed on a purely volunteer basis. We have an organized group on SL called the “SL Veteran’s Tribute” if you would like to look it up.  This group will be used as the basis of our planning and scheduling for the Tribute.

Getting a notecard from Wildroses Pevensey, it had the following:

We will be hosting events daily (its not to late if you are still interested in donating some of your time to entertain us) Or if you would just like to come by and see the wall or submit a name to the wall. We continue to ad names to the wall and watch it grow. It is for past present and currently serving military Veterans around the world. I would try to describe the sim but i just can't it is something you have to see for yourself!

The SURL provided takes you to a small building that offers you a notecard explaining about the tribute. There's also a sign with some quick teleports to some of the different areas, such as the main stage. There's a sign next to the building showing what events are going on that day, or what went on the last day there were events. Walking straight ahead is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

 Straight ahead from there is the Memorial Wall in the center of the sim, sometimes just called "The Wall." I found a couple whom are known to history, WW1 aces Billy Bishop of Canada and Manfred von Ricthofen of Germany (the only German I saw on the memorial). Most are known only to friends and family, a mix of deceased veterans and some still alive, both retired and still serving. These are not just names on stones, but have stories behind them. The Newser reported on a few of them, Jacob Bolton/Lothi Aeon and the story of several US Marines from the same fire team who died in action or of wounds as described by a brother in arms, the one in the team who made it home.

The front section of The Wall has a number of flags overhead, with the United States and Canada in front. All the flags represent democratic republics. In the middle of the sections of wall is a fountain. It is surrounded by poppies and the flags and emblems of the six branches of the American military, the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and the newest one, the Space Force.

Surrounding The Wall are smaller displays, such as the Canadian Memorial, the September 11 Memorial, and the P.O.W. Memorial. There are two stages, the main stage and a smaller stage, for events. There are also displays of tanks and other ground vehicles, and a few planes in the air. There's also a couple ships, a battleship and a destroyer, on display in the water. There is something new this year. Previously, there was just a picture of the Lincoln Memorial. Now, it's an actually three-dimensional build, Lincoln Statue and all.

Monday November 1 was the opening of the Tribute, and that afternoon and evening there was an eight hour party at the smaller stage to celebrate with four DJs playing for four two-hour sets. I dropped in while Flattop Ewing was DJing, and it seems he hadn't played in a while, one lady saying, "Soooooooo great to hear you DJ again, after (over) ten years." Flattop laughed, "Right Dena? After (over) ten years, I think I might have lost a step or two?" There was more talking and joking. Eventually they told me that earlier, Ekim Linden had dropped by in a pinata avatar, showing me a picture.

Flattop and I would talk a little after the part. Of the Memorial Wall, "A lot of those names up there, I have heard some amazing stories over the years. Some will make ya cry, and then some will make ya cry laughing. ... Met a lady two years ago here. She lost her husband in Vietnam, she lost both her sons in Desert Storm, she lost her grandson in Afghanistan." He looked back at how long the Tribute has gone on, "Fifteen years now, absolutely incredible.  I think it showed that Second Life actually NEEDED a Veterans Tribute like this. I never even dreamed it would go this long." He appreciated the attention the Newser had given the tribute over time, "I love hearing the stories, so we never forget."

The Veterans Tribute is scheduled to be up until November 15. After that, it will soon fade away for another year.

To see more pictures of the Tribute, one can check out the Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/groups/14733957@N20/

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rainbow%20Dream/128/128/21

Image credit: Samson Rowley

Bixyl Shuftan
 

ADI In The Wasteland

By Theonlyjohnny Resident



ADI, also known as, Atlas Defense Industries, is actually an evil group. ADI's main goal is to dominate the entire North American land. despite being under investigation by others, it still actually sells weapons to, not only the two investigating groups, but anyone who requires a weapon.

Despite being evil, the group still holds common courtesy, and fairness, higher than other combat groups. While others may use speed huds, prim shooting, and other cheap tactics, to their advantage, ADI uses the strength of its soldiers, to their advantage.

Look to the sim, at first, and see how it's designed. Most people would take one look at it and assume ADI has a massive advantage. However, take another look, at the entire sim.

While ADI does hold most of the sim, it doesn't give them an advantage. Firstly, lets take a look at vehicles. Any raiding vehicles will be able to spawn, and get completely set up, in safety, due to the wall. However, ADI's aircraft spawn on top of the building, in the open, with no protection. ADI's tanks and mechs do spawn in safety, but they're only defended by a door.

Now let's take a look at the safety of the infantry. While there are barricades, that defend the defending infantry, the barricades are spread out in a thin line, not giving a lot of protection. Look at the wall defendin the raiders. This wall, and the barricades on top, as well as the buildings, give the raiders a greater advantage.

So, how, you ask, do ADI manage to be one of the best? Well that's simple really. Their training. While most groups will simply train their fresh recruits in the beginning, ADI trains constantly. Many will ask how they train, well, that is classified information. Otherwise ADI would meet its match.

ADI is always recruiting, and not just for combat. You see, at ADI, the weapons and vehicles are not something you can find on the marketplace. ADI makes its own weapons, and vehicles. The people that make them, are known as scientists. ADI is always looking for more scientists.

The combat side is always recruiting as well. ADI has many things to try, there is infantry, mechs, artillery, pilots, and even tank drivers. If you want to experience some combat, and would like to join the winning team, then check out ADI, I swear, you will not be disappointed.

ADI's sim is located at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wasteland/117/17/84

Theonlyjohnny

Memorials to Veterans in Second Life

One can find just about anything in Second Life. And that includes tributes to those who died in defense of their country. Almost two years ago, Second Life Newser took a look at some of the memorials on the Grid. Sadly since then, some have faded away. This includes the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. But there are also some additions.

 Although known more for it's Relay for Life events, Southern Colorado has a small veterans memorial.

" 'My Angel, his name is Freedom - Choose him to be your king. He shall cut pathways east and west, and fend you with his wing.' - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Dedicated to all those who have given life or limb in the service of the Angel named Freedom."

The Southern Colorado is at Southern Colorado, (129, 41, 25)

Patriot Island is home to a community of veterans in Second Life. It's also home to a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Patriot Island (165, 125, 28)

In the Thynk sim, there is "The Path of Freedom" memorial, "The Path to Freedom memorial was made in honor of all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and the millions that have been affected through the many wars that this country has had to face."

The memorial mentions well-known wars in American history, as well as the Indian Wars, the Cold War, and conflicts and operations in recent history (pictured just above), some well known, some which have become smaller historical footnotes.

"The Path of Freedom" is in Thynk (174, 35, 23)

 In the Arena sim, the Operation Enduring Freedom Memorial, a tribute to the soldiers who fell in Afghanistan. The wife of a veteran got the help of Jade Opel and Jester Knox in building the memorial. The name on the stone and the picture changes every few moments.

"My husband is in the Army and was stationed there for a year in 2005, and left Jan 24, 2007.  His first deployment, fortunately they only lost one soldier from their unit, but many others have died.  This is my way of honoring those that gave their lives for this country."

 "And as of 27 May 2012 there have been 4222 visitors,  I reset it by accident, I am actually amazed at that number and I am sorry I have not kept the memorial up to date, however RL has taken priority and it's toll on me, so I hope you will forgive me.  I haven't forgotten about any fallen hero, I have just been delayed.

"If you are also interested you may donate to the following places.Armed Forces Relief Trust (www.afrtrust.org).  The people help the families that have lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Operation Family Fund (http://www.oeffamilyfund.org)  They help provide help to the families and also to help build a memorial on the lost soldiers behalf."

The memorial is in Arena, (70, 95, 46)

For those looking for a British memorial, there's one in the London area, the Tower Hill Memorial in Knightbridge.

"The Tower Hill Memorial is a replica of the real life Tower Hill Memorial, which is located in London. The Tower Hill Memorial commemorates military personnel from WW1. The memorial also includes a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior."

The Tower Hill Memorial is in Knightbridge (95, 230, 21)

No doubt there are other memorials, so by all means don't stop looking, and honoring.

Bixyl Shuftan