A humbling afternoon visit

Hubby and I drove to downtown San Diego yesterday.  We found his favorite Italian market in Little Italy, bought pasta and a couple of sandwiches, and headed down to Seaport Village where we ate our sandwiches by a little pond there.  There were two families with baby ducks and it was fun to sit and watch their antics.  The tiniest duckling was the most bossy!  He/she was a REAL character!  Quite independent, too!

After negotiating the self-pay checkout system they now have for the parking lots, we headed up to Point Loma.  Hubby had never seen the tide pools, so we pulled off the main road and drove down to them.  However, it was high tide.  At least he got to see the cliffs there.

It was a dark and dreary day.  The fog and clouds didn't really burn off until 3:00 p.m. and then by the time we returned to Carlsbad, they were back.

Along the way we passed by the national cemetery there at Point Loma.  It was a very moving experience.  At one point we saw a woman with a bouquet looking for a name.  When she found it, she stood crying.  Not wishing to intrude, we kept driving.  I cannot imagine her emotions.

There are several turnouts along the road, so we stopped and I took these photos.  I really don't know what else to say, so I'll let the photos do the talking.

I was reading about the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery today and came across this:

Situated in San Diego County on the Fort Rosecrans Military reservation, the cemetery is located approximately 10 miles west of San Diego, overlooking the bay and the city.

Many Fort Rosecrans interments date to the early years of the California Territory, including the remains of the casualties of the battle of San Pasqual. Shortly after the United States declared war on Mexico in May 1846, Brigadier Stephen Watts Kearny was tasked with conquering Mexico’s northern provinces, New Mexico and California. While Kearny demonstrated his considerable gift for administrative command with his acquisition of the New Mexican territory, he faced a more difficult task in California. Expecting a show of force from the Mexican Californios, Kearny set out west from New Mexico. Upon reaching California, Kit Carson intercepted him and his men, who informed him the territory had been taken by American settlers in the Bear Flag Revolt. Kearny sent 200 of his men back to New Mexico with the news and continued forward with one-third of his force. Unfortunately, the success of the revolt had been exaggerated and, before reaching their destination, Kearny and his men encountered a group of Californios intent on keeping more U.S. troops out of their homeland.

In the subsequent Battle of San Pasqual, 19 of Kearny’s men and an untold number of Californios lost their lives. Initially, the dead were buried where they fell, but by 1874 the remains had been removed to the San Diego Military Reservation. Eight years later, the bodies were again reinterred at what is now Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. In 1922, the San Diego chapter of the Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West had a large boulder brought from the battlefield and placed at the gravesite with a plaque affixed that lists the names of the dead.

I did not know this information.  If you wish to read more about the National cemetery, here is their website:   http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftrosecrans.asp#regs

And, this from Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Rosecrans_National_Cemetery

Rosecrans cemetery is now FULL.  Here's the headline:
 

Last Burial Space Claimed at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery

Rosecrans has the remains of 112,000 people from military conflicts dating back to the 1800s, including at least 23 winners of the Medal of Honor.  Ledbetter said space will be available for spouses of those already buried at Fort Rosecrans, and for eligible children. New remains will have to go to the Miramar National Cemetery, he said.