Irvine Memorial Honors Fallen U.S. Troops from Iraq, Afghanistan
Unlike most veterans memorials, no ranks are displayed next to the names
Monday, Nov 15, 2010 | Updated 12:30 PM PDT
The Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial in Northwood Community Park will feature the names of 5,714 people who have died in the two wars since 2001 carved in granite.
A park in Irvine is being called the United States' first memorial to American troops who died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial in Northwood Community Park will feature the names of 5,714 people who have died in the two wars since 2001 carved in granite. Room will be left to add more names as the conflicts drag on.
"It really was a labor of love," memorial co-chairman Dale Jelinek told the Los Angeles Times.
Ensuring that all names and ages were correct took thousands of hours. About 3 percent of all Department of Defense casualty records contain errors, according to Orange County veterans advocates.
Unlike most veterans memorials, no ranks are displayed next to the names -- just ages.
"This is not about rank, this is about them as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters," Jelinek said. "From the very outset, the goal has been to recognize that this spans all generations."
The city of Irvine approved a permanent memorial, along with $150,000 to help build it, in 2009.
"In standing here, looking at these panels, I find myself personally inspired," Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang said recently. "Their sacrifice will forever be remembered by the public and whoever comes to see this memorial."
