Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Christopher Umana

The plaque memorializing the Vietnam veterans includes the names of 103 local area soldiers who lost their lives in Vietnam. It reads: “This memorial honors the men of Long Beach who paid the ultimate price for freedom in service to their country. They chose to serve, not run. They chose to obey, not defy. These qualities represent America’s best.” Christopher Umana, artist, has said, “Since I never served our country in the military, it made me proud as an American to be able to use my creative skills and abilities in order to show my gratitude. Through this memorial, I could honor not merely for those veterans from Long Beach, but all Americans who have given their lives in order for us to enjoy the freedoms we hold so dearly. It is my endless and emphatic ‘THANK YOU!'”.