Veterans Memorial to Be Built at Center

A memorial to recognize Huntington Beach veterans killed or missing from all conflicts dating back to World War I will be built at the Civic Center.

Huntington Beach veterans groups will raise the $20,000 needed build the memorial, which will bear the names of about 90 people.

“I believe these men need to be honored. They gave the ultimate sacrifice for the city and their country,” said Vietnam veteran Bob Kakuk, a 25-year resident who is spearheading the project.

The City Council this week approved the plan for the memorial, which officials hope to dedicate on Veterans Day.

The memorial will be 5 1/2 feet tall and 7 feet wide, consisting of three panels made of black granite, Kakuk said. The center panel will have the logos of the different military branches as well as the prisoner of war symbol. Veterans’ names will be inscribed in remaining panels, on which there is room for about 150 names.

A year ago, Kakuk, 49, who served in Vietnam in 1968, approached the city about the project after he noticed the existing memorial for World War I and World War II veterans at the Civic Center didn’t have the names of Vietnam veterans.

“I just thought it was appropriate that they should be honored. They fought as bravely as anyone else [did] in other wars,” said Kakuk, who later learned that Korean War veterans were also not represented on the memorial.

Because the existing memorial doesn’t have the room to add more names, it will be taken down and replaced with the new one.

Kakuk and the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts are working to come up with a fund-raising plan. Other groups are also invited to help, he said. Public donations are being sought for the project.

Since it takes five months for the black granite to be shipped from India, Kakuk said that $2,500 needs to be raised immediately for the down payment.

Donations may be sent to Huntington Beach Veterans’ Memorial Fund, 21661 Brookhurst St. #377, Huntington Beach, CA 92646.

Information: (714) 968-9591, or call the local VFW or American Legion posts.