REDONDO BEACH VETERANS MEMORIAL
WELCOME!
The Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial honors our past, present and future veterans and memorializes the sacrifices they give to protect our country and way of life.
“When brave men and women return from war and all the speeches fade.
When flag-draped caskets have been lowered and the final words prayed.
There’s a need for a special place to honor the memory and service these fellow citizens made.“
– Larry Futrell, US Navy Veteran
The Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial
The Memorial was dedicated on Veterans Day, 11 November 2010, and continues to host the Redondo Beach Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies ever since.
It is located at Veterans Park (309 The Esplanade, Redondo Beach, CA 90277) on the southwest ocean-facing side of Torrance Boulevard and Catalina Avenue, just south of the Redondo Beach pier.
The Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial Task Force (RBVMT) was created to conceptualize, design, and build the Memorial via private donations and fundraising efforts. The RBVMT is a community-based, all-volunteer organization comprised of local veterans and citizens.
The public may purchase memorial bricks to honor veterans close to their hearts. All donations and brick proceeds are used for general maintenance and building additional Memorial features.
Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter – we will update you on upcoming events, brick installations and personal stories about the bricks and the memorial.
Thank you for visiting our website and we hope you visit the Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial in person, very soon.
Sincerely,
The Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial Task Force
Special thanks to
Klein Creative Media
for the fly over video of the
Memorial Day Project
Klein Creative Media YouTube Channel
Please Subscribe to 'Say Thank You'
Upcoming Event:
Veterans Day Tribute
Monday, November 11, 2024 - 1p.m. (1300)
About the RBVM Task Force
The Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial Task Force (RBVMT) is a community-based, all-volunteer organization comprised of local veterans and citizens.
The RBVMT hosts the Memorial Day and Veterans Day celebrations each year and continues to raise funds via donations and selling personalized, engraved bricks that are installed in the Memorial.
Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter – we’ll update you on upcoming events, brick installations and personal stories about the brick and the memorial.
TASK FORCE MEMBERS:
John Simpson, United States Marine Corps Korean War, Chairman in Memoriam
Richard Abele, United States Navy (Ret.) Vietnam War Era
Betsy Butler, Former Assemblywoman 53rd California Assembly District
Amber Cascadden, Commanding Officer U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, South Bay Coastal Division
Nancy Connell, Daughters of the American Revolution, El Redondo Chapter
Dal Covington, United States Army Vietnam War Era
Peter Dabbieri, United States Navy Pilot Vietnam War Era
Elizabeth Dye, Boy Scouts of America Troop No. 378 & No. 718
Larry Futrell, United States Navy Vietnam War
Justin Garcia, Sgt. United States Army (Ret.)
John Gran, Former City of Redondo Beach Council Member
Chairman Tom Lasser, United States Army Vietnam War
Jackie Luca, Regent El Redondo Chapter, NSDAR
Past Chairman Herb Masi, United States Army Special Forces Vietnam War
Ernie O’Dell, United States Army Vietnam Era
Jim Olds, Sons of the American Revolution SAR, Harbor Chapter
Annette James-Rogers, Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, Tent No. 86
Shannon Sneed, City of Redondo Beach Representative
Dieter Thomas, Veterans Memorial Architect
Mike Talleda, Wounded Heroes of America
Major Mario Gasca, United States Marine Corps Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
William Woodall, United States Naval Air Reserve Korean War Era
PARTNERS
- American Legion South Bay Post 184
- AMVETS
- Boy Scouts of America Troop No. 378 & No. 718
- California State Guard
- Coast Guard Auxiliary, Beach Cities Flotilla 12-05
- Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Tent No. 86
- Dave Rupp, Commander, U.S. Navy, (Ret).
- El Redondo Chapter, National Society Daughters of American Revolution
- Gold and Blue Star Mothers of America
- National Surface Museum of the United States
- Naval Sea Cadets – South Bay Coastal Division
- Redondo Beach Elks Lodge No. 1378
- Redondo Union High School Wind Ensemble
- Redondo Union High School Marine Corps JROTC
- Redondo Beach Police & Fire Departments
- United States Army Coastal Recruiting Command
- U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Point Magu
- Vietnam Veterans of America – Chapter 53
- Western Museum of Flight
- Wounded Heroes of America
History
Building the Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial
A Mission Accepted. A Mission Completed.
The Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial was dedicated on Veterans Day, 11 November 2010, and today hosts Redondo Beach’s annual Memorial Day Ceremonies and Veteran’s Day remembrances.
The Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial Task Force (RBVMT) was created to conceptualize, design, and build the Memorial via private donations and fundraising efforts. The RBVMT is a community-based, all-volunteer organization comprised of local veterans and citizens.
The RBVMT’s Mission:
“To place in perpetuity, a memorial honoring all past, present and future veterans of the United States of America.”
2003 – The Redondo Beach City Recreation and Community Services Department staff and city volunteers organize a Veteran’s Day event in Veterans Park.
2004 – Ernie O’Dell, the Redondo Beach City Treasurer, recommends that access to Veterans Park be provided from the Rotunda, with a grand staircase leading directly to the park, and the future site of the new Veterans Memorial.
2005 – A conceptual design for the Veterans Memorial is submitted and approved by the Redondo Beach City Council. The conceptual design is refined and finalized by Associate City Engineer, Quong Dang.
2006 – The City Council approves the Memorial’s design and estimates construction costs of $250,000. The Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial Task Force (RBVMT) is formally organized: John Simpson (Marine), Ernie O’Dell (Army), Chris Meyer (Air Force), Larry Futrell (Navy) and Colonel Felasco, RUHS Jr. ROTC commander (Marine).
2007 – Redondo Beach allocates $50,000 for the Memorial Project and the RBVMT agrees to match funds. The RBVMT adds Herb Masi (Army) and Peter Dabbieri (Navy) to coordinate the fundraising efforts and raises $65,000+ in ten months.
2008 – John Simpson is elected RBVMT Chairman, and regular meetings commence. Several professionals contribute to the project at reduced/no costs, including Dallas Covington (General Contractor), Deiter Thomas (Architect), Jim Parker (Electrical Contractor) and Terry Banning (Concrete). Many others volunteer their time and money towards the Memorial’s completion.
2009 – The City Council approves the final plans and issues a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) to authorize the Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial Task Force to raise additional funds and engage Covington Construction to build the Memorial.
2010 – Memorial Day – Mayor Mike Gin presides over the Memorial’s ground breaking ceremony and 71 days later the City of Redondo Beach and RBVMT celebrate its completion.
2010 – Veterans Day – After seven years of hard work and $250,000+ raised via public & private contributions, the Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial is dedicated and opened to the public with approximately 400 people in attendance.
The Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial signifies countless hours of dedication by the RBVMT, Redondo Beach city employees and community members. Thank you for your continued diligence and service as thousands of visitors come to the Memorial each year and experience its special meaning.
The Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial now hosts annual Memorial Day Ceremonies and Veteran’s Day Remembrances and “serves as a perpetual memorial to honor all past, present, and future veterans of the United States of America.”