LAKE FOREST : Veterans Memorial to Be Dedicated

South County’s first war memorial, sponsored by the Orange County Cemetery District, will be dedicated Sunday.

Barry R. Franks, a Marine Corps veteran who died during the Vietnam conflict, will be the first serviceman honored at El Toro Memorial Park during the 2 p.m. ceremonies.

Officials will unveil a special flagpole and plaque that will be used during burials and remembrances of veterans throughout the county.

“The plaque has interchangeable letters,” said Sam Randall, general manager of the cemetery district. “Anyone can request having a veteran’s name inserted no matter what park they’re being laid to rest at or how many years ago they passed away.”

Known as a Mariner’s Flagpole, the pole has a crossbar on which three flags will be flown horizontally, Randall said. The appropriate state, country and service flags will be raised whenever a veteran is buried.

Randall said the new section in the cemetery will fulfill the desires of many county residents who have called the district in recent years to request a special place to honor war veterans.

“There was no place in South County where a monument or memorial for veterans could be found,” Randall said. “Our board of trustees decided that we needed to dedicate something to them.”

Local veterans organizations will provide color guards for the Sunday ceremony. Janet Franks, mother of the serviceman being honored, will give a short speech, Randall said.

The public is invited to attend. For more information, call (714) 951-9102.