By Sara Beth Williams–
California State Assemblymember Josh Hoover has teamed up with a state senator to request funding be allocated toward the construction of an 80-percent replica Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Citrus Heights.
In a recent letter to constituents, Hoover announced that he and California State Senator Roger Niello have officially submitted a request for funding for the project in the state budget.
“This project is historic,” Hover said, adding that the construction of the wall will serve as an economic and cultural asset to Citrus Heights and the greater Sacramento region, drawing visitors from all over, and “fostering community engagement.”
The Citrus Heights Veterans Memorial Project, a nonprofit veterans organization, is leading the charge in constructing the first permanent replica Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on the west coast by 2026.
In October 2024, the nonprofit was awarded a $100,000 donation from the Citrus Heights Rotary Foundation, which will go toward the project. As well, the Citrus Heights City Council also awarded $20,000 in grant funding to go toward the project during the Oct. 23 council meeting. The acquired funds will go toward the design phase for the eventual construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
The project is proposed to be constructed on the premises of Calvary Cemetery and will be visible from eastbound Interstate 80, according to Scott Miller, Chief Operating Officer with Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services, which owns Calvary Cemetery. Miller is also on the board of the veterans nonprofit and the Chair for the Veterans Wall Committee. Miller said the wall will be an 80 percent replica of the original wall located in Washington, DC, constructed of India Black granite, and the names will be engraved, just as they are on the wall in Washington, DC.
The Citrus Heights Vietnam Memorial Project will be responsible for raising funds for construction and for an endowment for future maintenance of the memorial. The anticipated construction costs are estimated to exceed $3.5 million, according to the city.
A representative of Hoover was not able to be reached for further comment regarding how much funding was requested to be allocated.
California State Assemblymember Josh Hoover has recently requested funding to be allocated toward the construction of...
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