Rehab work to start on crumbling memorial to Latino veterans
*Wonderful news! In 1951 Mexican-American mothers held raffles, and sold tacos and tamales to raise funds for the monument in gratitude to their husbands and sons. VL
By Catherine Douglas Moran, Sacramento Bee
A group hoping to rehabilitate the deteriorating “El Soldado” memorial to Latino soldiers across from the state Capitol has the money to begin the project.
[pullquote]Although nearly $200,000 for the first phase has been collected, the entire project is estimated to cost $1.2 million.[/pullquote]Last week, the California Mexican American Veterans Memorial Beautification and Enhancement Committee formalized plans for the project and voted to continue to seek private funds, although new sidewalks will be paid for and completed by the Department of General Services.
El Soldado was completed in 1951 after Sacramento-area Mexican American mothers held raffles and sold homemade tamales and tacos to raise money for a memorial to commemorate their husbands and sons who fought in WWII. But the memorial, a single soldier standing at attention, has become dilapidated with several broken parts and riddled with mold. Earlier in July a piece of the soldier’s rifle barrel was found broken and lying on the ground.
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[Photo by A.Davey/Flickr]
