Jun 09 2022
Allyson Vergara | The Press-Enterprise
A new monument in Norco will salute the families of military personnel and servicemen and women who were killed in the line of duty.
Military families, called Blue Stars, and the immediate family members of those who died, called Gold Stars, will be forever recognized in the city.
A dedication and unveiling of the Gold Star Blue Star Families Monument is set for Sunday, June 12, at George A. Ingalls Veterans Memorial Plaza.
An open, free reception hosted by the Norco Rotary Club will begin at 4 p.m. The dedication is at 6 p.m. The event will be staged by the city and the Woody Williams Foundation, which designed and supplied the monument.
Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments have a two-sided design and are made of black granite. One side recognizes the families “who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom,” according to the Woody Williams Foundation. The other side includes four granite panels, representing “homeland, family, patriot and sacrifice,” city spokesperson Kelli Newton said. A silhouette of a saluting service member is in the center.
The monument overlook includes three illuminated stars — one gold and two blue — to honor Gold Star and Blue Star families. Blue Star families include those who have immediate family members serving in the U.S. military during times of conflict, including war.
The monument has been in the works for several years — following the 2014 opening of the Ingalls Memorial Plaza, which was named after a young Norco resident who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War.
Information: 951-270-5632 or events@ci.norco.ca.us