Memorial to Viet War Dead Planned

A $2-million brass-and-granite memorial to the 5,600 Californians who died in the Vietnam War is planned for Capitol Park. The circular monument will depict a lone GI reading a letter surrounded by walls bearing the names of the dead.

One of the designers of the memorial said he envisions the work as a contrast “to the abstract monument” honoring American war dead in Washington.

The California monument will be topped by an American flag and surrounded by two concentric walls. The first, 11 feet high, will have brass relief images from the war on its inner face and the names of the dead on its outer surface. The second, about three feet high, will serve as a boundary for the memorial and highlight the viewing area, which will be surrounded by cherry trees and seating for spectators.

Gov. George Deukmejian is scheduled to unveil a miniature $12,000 model of the memorial in park ceremonies Monday and meet the designers of the monument, San Francisco architects Mike Larson and Tom Chytrowski, who won a $10,000 first prize for their creation.

The design was selected from 113 entries by the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission. Linda McClenahan, the panel chairwoman, said the Larson-Chytrowski design received five votes of the six voting members of the commission, all of whom are Vietnam veterans.