CITY OF PICO RIVERA VETERANS MEMORIAL PLAZA

The Veterans Memorial Plaza was completed in May of 2019.  The Plaza was built around the existing memorial located at Mines Avenue. The completed Plaza enhanced the existing site, bringing more attention and honor to the Veterans of Pico Rivera who so bravely gave their lives while serving their community and their country. 

The Plaza includes additional lighting for nighttime viewing, new concrete pavement, additional landscaping, masonry seating benches, a granite faced wall adorned with the bronze seals of the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.  There are also five flag poles, one for each flag of the branches of the United States Armed Forces.  A single prominent flag pole sits at the eastern side of the Plaza proudly displaying the flag of the United States, and below that, the flag representing and remembering those who were a Prisoner of War, or Missing in Action.  

The centerpiece of the Veterans Memorial Plaza is the two bronze plaques representing American Legion Posts, 341 & 411, and Veterans of Foreign War Posts, 6315 & 7734 that are in the City of Pico Rivera. Standing between the two bronze plaques is a single dedication wall which will have individual plaques of the names of those who lived in Pico Rivera that courageously gave their lives serving their country, as well as recipients of the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross or Silver Star Medal.

memorial plaza VETERANS NAME plaque  

The City of Pico Rivera is proud of all our Veterans and wish to honor them by having their names proudly displayed for residents and visitors alike to reflect and honor each of the Veterans on the dedication wall.  To nominate a Veteran, follow the criteria below and download the forms located at the bottom of this page or visit the City's Department of Parks and Recreation Office at 6767 Passons Boulevard.  

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 

The following City Council approved criteria was developed to provide guidance to City staff when reviewing nominees for inclusion on the Veterans Memorial. The City has determined it is very important to honor the integrity of the Memorial by carefully applying a criteria. 

To be eligible for recognition through plaque placement on the Veterans Memorial the following criteria must be met: 

1. Nominee must have served honorably with the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine  Corps, Merchant Marines or the Navy, or their Reserve or National Guard components; and

2. Nominee must have lived in the City of Pico Rivera for a minimum of five (5) years and;  

3. Nominee must have one of the following United States Department of Defense designations: 

• a. Killed in Action (KIA) • Classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces   at the hand of hostile forces. Per the United States Department of Defense (DOD),   those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons, but have been killed due to   hostile attack.  
• b. Prisoner of War (POW)/Missing in Action (MIA) • United States Military personnel designated by their Service Secretary as prisoners of war or missing in action (POW/MIA). The status applies to those POW or MIA during any campaign or hostile action involving U.S. Military intervention or declared war. 
• c. Purple Heart recipient • Military decoration for those wounded or killed in action. 
• d. Medal of Honor recipient • Highest United States military decoration awarded by Congress to a member of the  armed forces for gallantry and bravery in combat at the risk of life above and beyond  the call of duty. 
• e. Distinguished Service Cross Recipient • Second highest military award that can be given to a member of the United States Army (and previously the United States Air Force), for extreme gallantry and risk of life   in actual combat with an armed enemy force. 
• f. Silver Star Medal Recipient • The third-highest personal decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star  Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for   gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.

4. Nominee may not have any criminal convictions.  

5. Special cases may be requested and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The review period will be extended. For consideration, please submit a written request documenting the special circumstances around the case, along with the nomination form, required military record, and residency documentation. 

PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY 

Proof of Pico Rivera Residency

A copy of a minimum of two of the following is required for proof that the nominee lived in Pico Rivera for at least five years. All documents must have nominee's name:

1. Birth Certificate

2. Newspaper Birth Announcement

3. Hospital Records

4. California Driver’s License

5. Certified Home of Record/Enlistment Paperwork

6. Pico Rivera Private or Public School Records/Identification

7. School Records

8. Utility Bill

9. Financial Records (Bank statements, credit card statements, etc)

Military Designations

Provide copy of nominee's DD Form 214 and one the following to verify US Department of Defense designation: 

1. Copy of the “Certified Report of Incident” issued by military

2. Newspaper Article

3. Death Certificate

4. History Book

5. Newspaper/Internet Obituary 

6. Department of Defense Data

7. Internet or print records from Museums, Libraries, Military or Church Organizations (such as National Personal Records Center and the Department of Defense)

8. Other legal documentation verifying branch, rank, and eligible designation

HOW TO NOMINATE A VETERAN

Complete and submit a nominee application, eligibility documents and required donation of $200 per plaque payable to the “City of Pico Rivera” to the Parks & Recreation Department. Each application will be reviewed for consideration of approval. Submitter will be notified of application approval or denial status upon determination. 

Memorial Plaza Plaque Application FRONT

Memorial Plaza Plaque Application BACK 

PLAQUE INSTALLATION SCHEDULE

The City will be accepting the first round of applications from Memorial Day 2019 through July 2019. The name plaques take a minimum of 6-8 weeks to be produced and staff is anticipating the first round of plaques to be installed in late July through mid-September 2019. After this initial period of installations there will be a set schedule:

Application Received: April - August  

Plaque Installed: One week prior to Veterans Day  

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Application Received: September - March   

Plaque Installed: One week prior to Memorial Day

For more information, contact our Parks and Recreation Office at 562.801.4430, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.