Community honors late veteran who created Patriot Point in Huntington Beach

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Alberta Martinez, center, Zach Martinez’s widow, is given an American flag from Patriot Point in Huntington Beach as she stands among family and friends during a memorial service Monday celebrating her husband’s life. Zach Martinez, who died last month, was a Vietnam veteran who raised the flag on a bluff along Pacific Coast Highway near Goldenwest Street on Memorial Day 2010 and created Patriot Point to honor military veterans and their families.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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A plane towing a banner reading “Thank you for your service, Zach Martinez” circles Patriot Point in Huntington Beach on Monday during a memorial service for the Patriot Point creator.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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Zachary Martinez Jr. fights back tears as he speaks during a memorial service celebrating the life of his father, Vietnam veteran Zach Martinez, at Patriot Point in Huntington Beach on Monday.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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The crowd stands as members of the American Legion present the flag during a memorial service for Vietnam veteran Zach Martinez at Huntington Beach’s Patriot Point, which he created in 2010.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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Laura Equitz speaks during a memorial service for her brother, Vietnam veteran and Patriot Point creator Zach Martinez, on Monday in Huntington Beach.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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Members of American Legion Post 133 of Huntington Beach take down an American flag during a memorial service celebrating the life of Patriot Point founder Zach Martinez on Monday in Huntington Beach. The flag was given to Martinez’s widow, Alberta.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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An honor guard from Riverside National Cemetery files in during a memorial service Monday in Huntington Beach for Patriot Point creator Zach Martinez.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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State Sen. Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove) speaks during a memorial service for Vietnam veteran Zach Martinez at Patriot Point in Huntington Beach on Monday. Nguyen said she will try to make Patriot Point, which Martinez created in 2010, an official site honoring military veterans and their families.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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American Legion members fire volleys in honor of late Vietnam veteran Zach Martinez at Patriot Point in Huntington Beach on Monday.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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Photos of late Vietnam veteran Zach Martinez are displayed during a memorial service in his honor Monday at Patriot Point in Huntington Beach.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

By Daily Pilot staff

July 16, 2018 4:05 PM PT

A crowd gathered along Pacific Coast Highway on Monday to honor the late Zach Martinez, a Vietnam veteran who created Patriot Point in Huntington Beach.

On Memorial Day 2010, Martinez, who died of cancer last month, raised an American flag on a bluff above the ocean on PCH near Goldenwest Street, creating Patriot Point to honor military veterans and their families.

During Monday’s event, family members shared stories of Martinez, and state Sen. Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove) said she would try to make Patriot Point an official site.

A plane circled the area pulling a banner that read “Thank you for your service, Zach Martinez.”

At Councilwoman Barbara Delgleize’s request, the city of Huntington Beach is looking into buying and installing a plaque dedicated to Martinez.

Martinez enlisted in the Navy at age 18 in 1966. He served in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart after surviving a Viet Cong ambush in the Mekong Delta in 1969, according to the Healing4Warriors website.

Community honors late veteran who created Patriot Point in Huntington Beach

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