Resources for the Veterans Community
History of the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The movement to erect the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial was a grass roots effort, which started
in 1983 with the vision of a group of Vietnam veterans from Marin and Sonoma Counties. Herman Woods,
a double-amputee and veteran of the US Army, was the key spokesperson in this group. He approached
then-California Assembly Member Richard Floyd (D-Lawndale), himself a decorated Korean War veteran,
about sponsoring legislation that would provide for the construction of a memorial to honor California
veterans of the Vietnam War.
Assembly Member Floyd subsequently held a rally on the steps of the State Capitol to confirm community
support for the measure. When eight hundred people attended, he was convinced that construction of the
memorial was the will of the people. He then introduced Assembly Bill 650, which created the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial in Capitol Park. It was signed into law by Governor Deukmejian in September, 1983.