Arcadia Vietnam War Monument Placed in County Park

Photos by Terry Miller

Unveiling slated for Saturday, 2pm

By Terry Miller
Gene Glasco, Arcadia City Clerk shed a tear or two Monday morning, when he finally saw the 22,000 pound Monument to Vietnam Veterans being lowered from a massive crane to its permanent home in the Arcadia County Park, across from the Elks Lodge.
From 1966 to1972, fourteen U.S. servicemen from Arcadia became casualties of the War in Vietnam; their names have been reverently etched onto the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in our Nation’s capital.
Almost fifty years later, a local monument in their honor will be dedicated in a solemn ceremony this Saturday, May 28 beginning at 2:00 pm in the Arcadia County Park, thanks in no small part to the heroic efforts of Gene Glasco.
The Dedication of the Arcadia Vietnam Monument Memorial should prove moving to those who attend the ceremony; especially for the families of those that have been located and notified of this event to honor their loved ones that lost their lives in the Vietnam War.
Dedication highlights include presentation of Colors by the Arcadia Police Department Honor Guard, National Anthem by the Arcadia High School Band, Presentations by City of Arcadia Mayor Tom Beck, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Assemblyman Ed Chou, Brian Mejia of LA County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich and other dignitaries. Keynote Speaker will be Brigadier General (ret) Emory ‘Jack’ Hagan III, Commanding General California State Reserve and Marine Corps Vietnam veteran. There will be a 21 Gun Salute and a possible dramatic flyover by a UH1-B “Huey” helicopter that flew missions with the 1st Air Cavalry in Vietnam.

Gene Glasco, Arcadia City Clerk, Arcadia High School graduate and Vietnam veteran said building a Monument in tribute to Arcadia’s fallen was a vision he’s had for many years. He shared his thoughts with Los Angeles County Supervisor a year ago this month seeking his approval to build a Monument in the Arcadia Regional Community Park. Without any hesitation, Supervisor Antonovich readily endorsed his project paving the way for Glasco to begin putting together the fundraising efforts, marketing and construction apparatus needed to realize his Monument objective. “Three high school classmates and me went to Vietnam within a year of each other. “Tragically”, said Glasco, “two of them never came home”. Their names plus the names of twelve other Arcadia servicemen are permanently etched into the Monument’s bronze plaque that will be unveiled during this Saturday afternoon’s dedication ceremony. “The Arcadia Vietnam War Monument has been built in honor of Arcadia’s sons lost in battle but it also stands in tribute to all living Vietnam Era veterans”, added Glasco. Another of the Monument’s four plaques honors veterans from WWI, WW2, Korea, Vietnam and as recent as Afghanistan; their names and in most cases their military ranks are permanently inscribed into it.
The Arcadia Elks Lodge 2025 was instrumental in raising tax deductible donations for construction of the Monument generating needed capital with a successful community dinner last January, a pancake breakfast at Applebees in February, and consistent outreach efforts to their friends and fellow Elks members.

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