The concept for building the on-campus memorial began on Veterans Day, November 11, 2004, when the Saddleback College Veterans Memorial Task Force Committee which is made up of veterans and those interested in honoring veterans met to talk about the ways to permanently pay homage to the dedicated men and women who have served our country.
Two artists were called on for the task. Fred Olsen and Richard White, Director of the Saddleback College Art Department, were slated to build the memorial, which they will construct on campus by using a “fire in place” ceramics technique.
When finished, the Saddleback College Veterans Memorial will proudly display the first American flag flown over the United States Embassy in Ho Chi Minh City, a gift from Chapter 785 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, which obtained the flag from Pete Peterson, the first U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam and a former Prisoner of War. |
