23 May California Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bronze Statue

The juxtaposition between the granite and bronze California Vietnam Veterans Memorial sits on lush green grass makes this a striking landmark on the State Capitol grounds.

Just several yards from a well traveled road (15th Street), if one were to stand at the center, among the granite statues, one hardly hears the traffic whizzing by.

A relief map of Vietnam greets each visitor of the memorial. Just to the left of the entrance, a plaque depicting the effort of Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd, who introduced Assembly Bill 650 that established the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission that helped get donations to build the memorial, can be found along with several life-size bronze sculptures depicting the war.

There are five, life-sized bronze statues found in the inner layer of the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial. These statues depict the daily events of life during the Vietnam War. This sculpture is of a lone prisoner of war.

Of the five bronze statues in the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the one of a 19-year-old solider is the only one that is seated at the foot of the flag pole, while the other four are attached to granite walls.

An M16 rifle cradling his arm on one hand and a hand-written letter from his parents in the other.

This sculpture is of a nurse and wounded soldier. According to the California State Capitol Museum Web site, this memorial is the first to “recognize the contributions of the 15,000 nurses who served in Vietnam.

This sculpture is of two tired soldiers.

This sculpture is of two soldiers during combat.