When you come in to the Parks you will see first a large wooden sign announcing "The all Monterey County Veterans Park." Then when you reach the top park you will see another large wooden sign announcing The Monterey County Viet Nam Veterans Memorial Park. These signs were made and upkeep by Joe Gomez. Special recognition goes to Peter Kasavan and Luis Vargas of Kasavan Architects.

Taking the thoughts.

I and the Monterey County Viet Nam Veterans Memorial Committee had, and put them to paper then into action. The 2 Parks are symbolic. One must take a special look and thought at the Parks to see the meaning. The 6 and 1/2 acres Monterey County All Veterans Park.

Expresses the unity of all Veterans.

It begins with 5 earthen berms 3 foot wide 2 foot high and 40 foot long representing the 5 military branches Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. On each berm are 7 trees representing the 7 days a week a military person is on call. And on each berm there are is a different trees, as are the men and women in service to this great Nation. There are 3 large round patios representing 60mm and 80mm Mortar impaction. Then placed on the patios are 12 tables implying the 12 months the military person is on call. Also on the patios are 7 BBQ pits that represents the 7 days a week they have to prepare their own meals. Then looking above one sees the Monterey County Viet Nam Veterans Memorial Hill. It is designed to imply the reparation of the human heart. The 2 1/2 acres park is circled in a 5 foot wide sidewalk shaped as the outer lining of the heart. You can enter the park on the west side.

The first Memorial you see is the POW/MIA. A Black Granite Memorial with the POW/MIA logo ground into it's face. Then looking forward you see a 2 foot diameter Gold Star. That is representing of a small Gold Star Given to the family that loses a loved on in combat. Setting as the aorta it sets on a 3 foot high pedestal tilted to the west. We are the only park with a Gold Star to your right you will see a 4 foot high 5 foot tall Purple Heart Monument. For all those that are wounded in combat in all wars.

Representing the right ventricle. We are the only one on the west coast that have one. To your left you will see a 27 foot spear head supporting 3 flags. The USA, California and POW/MIA representing the right ventricle. To your right you will see a 60 foot half circular fighting sand bag wall carrying the 5 military branches Flags Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Beyond that is a 10 foot wide 30 foot long cement replica painted in the colors of the Military Viet Nam Campaign Ribbon. Green, yellow, red, yellow, red, yellow, red, yellow and green. In the far east of the heart stands the 42 ton slightly curved Granite Flag.' With 7 high polished red strips with 6 ground white stripes. Implying the original 13 colonies.

The Blue field has 50 ground white stars that represent the 50 States. The Blue field has small white flecks in the face of the marble implying stars in the sky. As George Washington upon seeing it the first time said the Flag of the United States represents the begriming of a new constellation. Looking closely at the base of the Flag you will see the name of the 78 Men from Monterey Country that were Killed In Action in Viet Nam War. There as a remembrance that we as a Country and Viet Nam Veterans will Never forget their sacrifice.

The flag is our title deed of freedom which is ours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity. As you see the flag silhouetted against the peacefully skies it is your country. It stands for what you are no more no less. We as Viet Nam Veterans had dedicated our lives to those principles. for which our Nation stands; One Nation under God, indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all.

The Flag is the rallying point when in battle. It represents the men and women in battle and is the shrouded covering on the caskets when they come home. So at our park the Flag represents the fallen. It symbolizes our birth right our heritage of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness purchased with blood and sorrows of our forefathers. The reason we selected the Flag for the center piece to representing our fallen from Monterey County Vietnam Veterans killed in Viet Nam is that our Flag is the sacred emblem of our Country.