Monument Honoring Jimmy Stewart Dedicated

On what would have been Jimmy Stewart’s 90th birthday, the late World War II pilot and actor was honored Wednesday with a permanent tribute at Griffith Park celebrating his patriotism and charitable work.

The bronze plaque and a 25-foot flagpole is the idea of Tom La Bonge, special assistant to Mayor Richard R. Riordan who led a private campaign to honor Stewart.

“Jimmy Stewart was truly a great man and a great American,” La Bonge said.

“What he did for St. John’s [Hospital], his love of Griffith Park, and his whole life, inspired me to call on my friends to help create a lasting tribute to a wonderful human being.”

The plaque will sit atop a rock monument across from the rangers station off Crystal Springs Drive.

It reads, in part:

“In honor of the great American whose humanity touched us all through his work as one of the favorite actors of our time.”