A SIMPLE PRAYER
Dear Lord. Please hold our troops in your loving hands. Bless them for their selfless acts of bravery and for those in need. Please bring them home safely. For those that are home, keep them in your prayers. Amen.
THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL VIRTUAL WALL
Located in Washington D.C., USA, the "Wall" memoralizes and honors the more than 58,300 women and men of all military services who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. May they be never forgotten. http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm
LA MESA VIETNAM MEMORIAL
The American Legion Post 282 is proud to own and maintain the Vietnam Memorial, adjacent to our property at the intersection of La Mesa's University Ave and Spring Street; specifically at 4915 Nebo Drive. In 1997, the title to the Memorial was transferred to Post 282 by the City of La Mesa. The colors and the POW/MIA flag are continually flown, illuminated at night. Heartland Youth for Decency solicits and maintains the funds for major Memorial enhancements, while Post 282 pays for the day-to-day expenses of utilities, landscaping, flags, etc.. On 18 Jul 2022, Post 282 replaced the two areas of grass (approx 1,000 sq ft) with stones and performed other repairs to the water systems so as to save water per the mandates from the State of California due to the continuing drought.
This Memorial honoring Vietnam Veterans who gave their lives is the first Vietnam Memorial in the State of California. Names on the wall memoralize those who had been living in Southern California's Heartland (consisting of the communities of La Mesa, Spring Valley, Janul, Lemon Grove, El Cajon, Santee, and Lakeside) when they accepted the call to military service and who must have maintained such residency as their official home of record. The Memorial was built in 1970 and dedicated on Flag Day, 14 June, 1970. On Flag Day, 14 June 2014, exactly 44 years from the date of the original dedication, the Memorial was rededicated. The rededication was due to the completion of major reconstruction because of vandalism (that continues to this day) and neglect since the original construction due to insufficient Post 282 funds. Realizing this, corrective actions were taken (see http://www.hyfd.org/).
The rededication ceremony was well attended by the Commander, President, and members from all the La Mesa Veterans Club's organizations, those that participated in the original construction and dedication, representatives from the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans Association, the Mayor of La Mesa, a Vietnam Prisoner of War, and the general population numbering approx. 400 total. The ceremony was broadcast by KUSI Television.
Donations for Memorial expenses (flags, utilities, landscaping) may be made directly to La Mesa Post 282 (P.O. Box 265, La Mesa, CA 91944-0265). Donations for major, future enhancements may be made using the above link.
