California Remembers
After a five-year effort, California is preparing to dedicate its own memorial to the 5,822 California dead and missing in the war in Vietnam. The monument, in Sacramento’s Capitol Park, will consist of four circular walls bearing 22 black-granite panels etched with each person’s name listed alphabetically by home town, age, rank and branch of service. Inside the walls will be a statue of a young soldier, reading mail from home.
The cost of the memorial is about $2 million, raised over a five-year period. Dedication events will be held Dec. 9-10 with the formal dedication on Dec. 10 by Gov. George Deukmejian.
A unique feature of the weekend is an effort to match California veterans with former buddies in Vietnam. Efforts have been made with the assistance of Electronic Data Systems to locate as many of California’s 330,000 Vietnam veterans as possible. Those attending the December ceremonies can request computer searches for former friends. Arrangements are being made for reunions in Sacramento during the dedication period. Veterans can obtain information on the “buddy search” by writing to CVVMC, Box 3040, Sacramento 95812 or by calling (916) 327-0077.
Sacramento’s Capitol Park is a place of beauty, peace and serenity--and a most appropriate site for this memorial.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
