WHEREAS, In 1993, Ron Jabaut contacted the United States Department of Veterans Affairs requesting permission to erect the Remembrance Memorial for California Korean War Veterans in honor of the 2,495 men and women from California who died in the Korean Conflict; and

WHEREAS, Many supporters of the memorial formed a committee, which launched an aggressive five-year public campaign to generate support among California’s American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, the “Chosin Few,” and “1st Marine Division” associations, as well as the citizens of the state; and

WHEREAS, The committee’s efforts resulted in providing the necessary financial support and resources by thousands of Californians and many Korean-based corporations for the memorial’s completion; and

WHEREAS, Upon the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ approval of the memorial’s final design by Edwin Bruce, ground breaking and construction was begun in July of 1998 within the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Gustine, and was remarkably completed by California-based contractors within one month; and

WHEREAS, The memorial is a simple, dignified design, composed of indigenous stone, including California white granite, with 16 panels engraved with the names of the 2,495 men and women who died in their country’s service; and

WHEREAS, The Remembrance Memorial for California Korean War Veterans was dedicated on August 1, 1998, thereby commemorating the ultimate sacrifice of those Californians who fell in the line of duty during the Korean Conflict; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate to recognize the efforts of Ron Jabaut and veterans throughout the state in erecting this memorial on behalf of those who died, so those veterans will never be forgotten; and

WHEREAS, It is important to draw the attention of Californians to the presence of this grand memorial in the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Gustine; now, therefore, be it