California XI

La Mesa lies just about 13 miles north east of San Diego. At the American Legion Post at the corner of University Ave.and Spring St. is a small park with a memorial dedicated to those from the area who were lost in Vietnam. It is one of the older memorials in the country as it was dedicated on Flag Day in 1970.

Over the years it has been updated and refurbished a couple of times. In 2010, La Mesa Middle School took on the task and added among other things mosaic benches. (Featured in the next post)

The information has been updated, too. The original numbers have grown from 57 to 74. In addition, a blank plaque has been added to provide space for more names should they be discovered. There is also be an permanent empty chair placed at the site to honor and recall POW/MIAs, reportedly the first in California.

I have written many times about the things people leave behind at these sites. This, however, is the first time I have seen a helmet liner (atop the cross.)

The latest re-dedication of the site took place on Flag Day, 2014, sometime after I visited, with members of the original builders and families of the lost in attendance. 44 years after the original dedication more than 400 people are reported to have come to, once again, dedicate and honor the lost from the area.

Next time, on the 16th I will post a few more interesting pics from this La Mesa site. Join me, as ever, at 9:00am.

To see additional posts from California, or any other state, click the state name on the left side of this page.