Kern Veterans Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kern Veterans Memorial |
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| County of Kern | |
| For all Kern County Veterans | |
| Unveiled | November 11, 2007 |
| Location | Bakersfield, California |
| Designed by | John Cohrs |
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To honor all those who served
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The Kern Veterans Memorial is a special monument found in Kern County, California. It was created to honor all the people from Kern County who have served in the United States armed forces. This includes those who served during times of peace and during wars. You can find the memorial in downtown Bakersfield. It is located near the Bakersfield Amtrak Station and the Beale Memorial Library. The memorial is a quiet place where people can remember and thank veterans.
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What Does the Memorial Look Like?
The Kern Veterans Memorial was designed by John Cohrs. It's a round area with two paths. The outer path is flat, while the inner path goes up to a higher level. In the middle, there is a beautiful fountain. It has granite and glass that spiral upwards to a point.
The Fountain and Its Message
The words "To honor all those who served" are carved into the granite of the fountain. At night, special lights in the fountain shine on the glass. They glow in changing colors of red, white, and blue. The sound of the fountain also helps to block out noise from the busy street nearby.
Flags and the Wall of Valor
Around the outside path of the memorial, you will see nine flags. These flags represent different parts of the United States military and government. They include the U.S. flag, the California state flag, and flags for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines. There is also a POW/MIA flag.
Between the flagpoles, there will be a "wall of valor." This wall will list the names of people who were killed or went missing during wartime. Their names will be etched into glass panels. They will be painted in gold so they are easy to see.
A Place for Reflection
The Kern Veterans Memorial Foundation explains that the memorial's design is like a labyrinth. A labyrinth is a path that helps people think and reflect. The memorial is a place to remember and understand the sacrifices veterans made. The outer path is flat and continuous. From here, visitors can begin a journey of deep memories. The center of the memorial has a sculpture. This sculpture represents the strength and sacrifices of all veterans.
The Veteran Kiosk
The memorial also has a special computer called a kiosk. This kiosk lets people search for information about veterans. You can find out about their years of service, any awards they received, and a short story about their lives. This unique computer helps visitors learn about the brave people who served our country.
Students Help Research Veterans
When the memorial was being planned, the Department of Veterans Affairs knew of about 350 Kern County veterans who were killed or missing. But students from the Achieve class at Bakersfield High School did amazing work. They helped find 657 more veterans. This brought the total to about 1007 veterans. These students also researched information about all 1007 veterans for the kiosk.
What's Next for the Memorial?
The next part of the memorial's construction is called Phase II. This phase will finish the remaining parts of the memorial. The wall of valor was temporarily removed. This was done so new panels could be ordered. These new panels will include any names that were missed before. Also, the names will be painted in gold. This will make them much easier to see during the day.
The kiosk is currently in a temporary wooden building. It will be moved into a new structure with granite walls and a stainless steel roof. As of 2008, the Kern Veterans Foundation needed about $300,000 more to reach their fundraising goal. Construction will likely begin once enough money has been raised.
