On May 19, the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce will host Gene Glasco, Vietnam veteran and elected city clerk, at the monthly networking breakfast. The morning event is to be held at Embassy Suites Arcadia from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Gene will speak regarding his personally envisioned Arcadia Vietnam War Monument to be installed at the L.A. County Arcadia Park for Supervisor Antonovich’s last annual “Salute to Veterans and the Families” event on May 28.
Fourteen Arcadia servicemen were killed in hostility while fighting in the Vietnam War from 1967-1974. In their honor and in tribute to all living veterans, the memorial has long been Gene’s vision. He served six years in the United States Navy, which included a hazardous 18-month tour of duty in the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam. Notably, one of Gene’s Arcadia High School classmates, Eugene Hicks, who began his tour the same year, was fatally wounded and is dearly remembered in the motivation to construct this monument.
The monument is to be located across the street from the Arcadia Elks Lodge 2025. The pre-casted concrete-block memorial measures 10-feet-wide by 7-feet-high and will feature an anterior dedication plaque for the 14 Arcadia servicemen. On the posterior, three bronze plaques are included – an individual donor plaque for memorial construction; a company and organization plaque for memorial construction; and an “in honor” plaque for those have fallen, regardless of whether that individual was an Arcadia resident or served in Vietnam. This feature is especially noteworthy, as it allows any citizen to discernibly commemorate a loved for their service. The American standard, POW, and California state flags will also atop the memorial and will be encapsulated by the Elks for display on holidays and by personal request from organizations.
Donations for the Arcadia Vietnam War Monument can be made to the Arcadia Elks Lodge, 27 W. Huntington Drive in Arcadia, or by credit card by visiting www.arcadiavietnammonument.org/contribute.
Visit the Arcadia Vietnam War Monument’s Facebook page to follow progress in anticipation for the dedication on May 28.
Attendees of the Networking Breakfast (third Thursday of each month), sponsored by Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary, not only enjoy a great breakfast buffet and valuable networking with dozens of others, but also introduce themselves one at a time with a 30-second “elevator pitch.”
Tickets are available by calling (626) 447-2159, in the “Shop” area at ArcadiaCaChamber.org, or at the chamber office at 388 W. Huntington Drive, during regular business hours.
