Resources for the Veterans Community
The Memorial
The California Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located in the north-east section of the Capitol Park
grounds of the State Capitol and is a standing tribute to the 5,822 servicemen and servicewomen killed
and missing in action. The 3,750-square-foot structure lies near the World Peace Rose Garden, a new
historic landmark, and is surrounded by lush greenery and other points of historical interest.
The Memorial is designed in the shape of broken concentric circles to serve as a reflection of life.
The innermost circle is shaped like a drum with entrances at the four points of the compass. The outer
ring is bordered by lawn planted with weeping cherry trees.
The main entrance to the Memorial lies at the southern point, where a map of South Vietnam is engraved
in the walkway. At this entrance, on two separate bronze casts, are the names of the appointed
Commissioners and the Great Seal of the State of California. Moving inward is a concrete planter
box bedded with white roses, which breaks to form three separate entrances. Flanking each entrance
are pylons capped with 24-hour lamps that symbolize eternal flames.
The central theme of the Memorial is a bronze figure of a young combat soldier seated within the inner
circle. Cradling an M-16, the figure looks up from the letter he is reading to confront the visitor. Next
to this sculpture is a dedication plaque inscribed with an excerpt of a poem by U.S. Army Major Michael O
'Donnell, who was killed in action. It reads, in part:
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"…take one moment to
embrace those gentle heroes
you left behind." |
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The bronze soldier is seated in the center of the Memorial, surrounded by the interior surfaces of the
four inner walls. Upon each wall is a mounted bronze bas-relief panel. The north wall panel depicts
soldiers engaged in combat, a fragment of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The east wall panel
illustrates the camaraderie and friendship of soldiers at war via displays of everyday experiences in
the field. The south wall relief, which is the only memorial in the United States to honor the courage,
endurance and suffering of our Prisoners of War, shows a POW sitting alone in his cell. He is surrounded
by a B-52 and a patrol boat. Lastly, the west wall panel depicts nurses and corpsmen tending wounded
American soldiers, as well as memorabilia from a soldier's personal belongings: dog tags, a letter, a
harmonica, a high school graduation tassel, and a Combat Infantry Badge.
Each panel image was taken from well-known photographs selected by the Memorial Commission and the
designers. Photographs were used to add a degree of authenticity to the displays. A flagpole, with a
truss framework suggestive of a World War II Bailey Bridge, is also erected inside the Memorial. It is
an acknowledgement of the tradition of the American combat veteran.
At the rear of the Memorial is a "Treasury" time capsule, containing a list of every individual and
organization that contributed to the building of the structure. A bronze sculpture of a helmet, a pair
of boots and a cartridge belt sits atop the Treasury.