The California Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Situated on a large grassy area on the north-east corner of the State Capitol this memorial is a circular design with full relief bronze sculptures depicting scenes from the daily life of soldiers during the war.

The sculptures represent many sides of the war from the soldiers to the nurses to the POWs. Putting a real statement on what so many fought and so many died for the American flag waves of the site. There are 5,822 names of California soldiers that either died or are missing are engraved on the twenty-two black granite panels, arranged by their hometowns for ease of locating them, to honor them and their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their families. There are stone benches in a ring around the panels to sit and contemplate the bravery and honor these fine men and women deserve for their ultimate sacrifice.

The entire cost $2.5 million for the cost of the memorial was provided through donations.

The creator of the bronze statues of the Memorial was artist Rolf Kriken.

There are several memorial ceremonies at the memorial each year with the largest being the “Reading of the Names” held on the day before Memorial Day every year. This normally takes approximately 12 hours to read the name of each and every service men and women who gave their lives in the Vietnam War.

Location: Capitol Park at 15^th and L in Sacramento, California.

Related posts:

1. Living Memorial Sculpture Garden – Weed, California
2. Port of Sacramento – West Sacramento, California
3. Southern Californians to hit the road Memorial Day
4. Old Sacramento State Historic Park – Sacramento, California
5. San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center – San Francisco, California