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On Monday, May 28 the 1/5 Vietnam Veterans Association will dedicate the 5th Marines Vietnam War Memorial with a ceremony from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Camp San Mateo 5th Marine Regiment Memorial Garden, located on Cristianitos Road in San Clemente, CA. The Memorial will honor the 2,706 Marines and Sailors who died in Vietnam while serving with the 5th Regiment.
The Memorial Monument was designed entirely with granite by monument builder Rock of Ages. The layout includes a total of six name panels arranged in a “U” shape around the center piece. Both sides of the name panels list the KIAs for a total of twelve name panels. The Battalions and porcelain emblems are listed at the top of the panels for each unit.
The panels list the rank, first name, middle initial and last name of the 2,706 KIAs in the 5th Marines during the Vietnam War. Twelve granite benches accommodate visitors to the Camp San Mateo Memorial Park with great close-up views of the Memorial Monument.
This project holds special meaning for both Rock of Ages and the veterans organizations involved. David Fournier, Large Projects Specialist at Rock of Ages, said, “Early on in the project, Steve Colwell of the 1/5 Vietnam Veterans Association payed us a visit and it was quite an experience listening to him talk about his Vietnam tour with D Company, 1st Battalion Fifth Marines. This Memorial means so much to him, and we are truly honored to be a part of it.”
Those involved with raising funds for the project include the 1/5 Vietnam Veterans Association, the 1st Marine Division Association, the Dana Point 5th Marines Support Group, and the 5th Marine Regiment Command Group. Funds are still being raised for the Memorial. Donations are being accepted through the campaign at 5thMarinesVietnamMemorial.org
Stephen B. Colwell of the 1/5 Vietnam Veterans Association will be on site during the ceremony for interviews. He can be reached at 760-522-6091 and stephenbcolwell@aol.com.
ABOUT ROCK OF AGES
Rock of Ages has been quarrying stone and crafting memorials and monuments for more than 100 years. A leader in the memorial industry, the company uses the highest quality natural stone and employs the top stone craftsmen, right here in Vermont. Rock of Ages is a member of the Polycor Inc. family of brands, North America’s largest natural stone producer. For more information regarding Rock of Ages please visit www.rockofages.com.
ABOUT THE 1/5 VIETNAM VETERANS ASSOCIATION
The 1/5 Vietnam Veterans Unit Chapter of the 1st Marine Division Association is a 501 (C) (19) not-for-profit corporation chartered in the state of North Carolina. The organization’s missions include supporting the 1st Marine Division Association and its Scholarship Programs; preserving incidents and memories of the Marines and Sailors who served with 1/5/1 during the Vietnam War; and fostering, encouraging, and perpetuating the memory and the spirit and comradeship in arms of the 1/5/1 Vietnam Veterans. For more information, visit 1-5vietnamveterans.org.
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