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The Dedication of The Veterans Wall of Freedom

By Jim Miller
Community Writer
10/19/2016 at 03:17 PM
GRAND TERRACE>> The time has finally come for the Dedication of the Veterans Wall of Freedom located at Pico Park in Grand Terrace on Veteran’s Day, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. The journey has been long and arduous, but it has been worthwhile for the Veterans Wall committee established on Dec. 9, 2003. Presently, there has been more than $150,000 dollars of donations (either actual dollars or in-kind) to get the project to where it stands today. One hundred percent of the funds raised for this project has been spent to design, build and maintain the Veterans Wall. Of course, there is much more to do to finalize this monument to memorialize the lives of so many Veterans both living and dead, that reaches throughout the Inland Empire and across the nation. The monument spells out the word "FREEDOM" in large block letters, with each letter standing six feet tall and six to eight feet wide. On each of the letters, veterans or families can purchase a space with a plaque for $100 to honor the veteran’s service to our country. There will be approximately 1,649 spaces made available on the monument, currently there are more than 350 plaques on the wall, which the engraving and installation started this past Memorial Day (2016). The Dedication ceremony on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, will be highlighted with a donations recognition event for the Freedom Sponsors of $10,000 dollars or more, Gold Sponsors of $5,000 dollars or more and Silver Sponsors of $1,000 dollars or more to be held at 12 p.m. at the park. These sponsors have been the back bone of the financial support needed to bring this Wall to where it is today, but the committee is still encouraging other individuals to take up the mantle of support, if they choose to do so. The ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. with many dignitaries in attendance, a special ribbon cutting event plus presentation of the Wreath of Bouquets to the veteran's honored by the monument. Also, there will be a 21 gun salute to honor the dedication ceremony and a time capsule will be made readied to be placed at a later date at the monument site. Please come out and celebrate this extraordinary event that only comes once in a lifetime. We love our veterans.