California XXI

This memorial stands to honor those who were POWs or are still MIAs, yet unaccounted for, even after all these years.

It was first unveiled in 1992 and takes up the whole block long side of a building on Pacific Avenue in Venice.

It honors the 2,273 who were POWs or still MIA at the time.

These lost are listed by their state or in a few cases their country of origin.

The memorial first came to my attention when I read a story about how it had been defaced. When I read it, it was not known who the perpetrator was, but since then he was caught and sent to jail for 4 years and must pay $38K in restitution. A second person was later arrested, but I could find no info on his fate.

The wall was restored. Only to be defaced once again. This time the idiot has not been identified and police do not think the incidents are related.

There was some talk about not restoring it this time. but, sounder minds prevailed and funds were raised to have it redone.

It was rededicated this past May (2017), on Memorial Day and I visited in early September.

We had a little trouble tracking it down but with repeated starts we finally found it. The roads in Venice are a little hard to navigate. Its address is listed as 614 Pacific Avenue. Venice is a part of Los Angeles, so if you are there go see it before something else happens to it.

Next time, on the 8th, we will travel cross country to Delaware. Join me there, as always, at 9:00am.

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