South Bay : Lomita Councilman Fights for War Dead
Dead but not forgotten has become something of a mantra these days for Lomita City Councilman Dave Albert.
The first-term councilman has launched a crusade to make certain every resident who died in combat is immortalized on the city’s war memorial.
Missing names on the memorial came to Albert’s attention last year when he saw a touring rendition of the national Vietnam War Memorial and saw names of Lomita men that had been omitted from the city’s bronze plaque outside the post office on Narbonne Avenue.
“This isn’t right,” Albert remembered thinking. “I don’t think it’s fair to have a memorial and not have all the correct names on it.”
This got Albert wondering how many other names may have been omitted. His quest has put him in contact with the Department of Defense, the Navy, the Air Force and the Marines, and he has determined that three names from the Vietnam War are missing and at least two from the Korea conflict.
To help his search, Albert has made fliers, published articles in two newsletters and placed ads on local cable access.
“I think we have to do everything we can to find those names,” he said.
Anyone who would like to help can call (310) 325-7110.
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