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Kings County updates Freedom Memorial criteria, plans 20th‑anniversary recognition for 14 names
Summary
The board approved updated guidelines for adding names to the Kings County Freedom Memorial and directed the veteran services officer and county executive office to coordinate a 20th‑anniversary ceremony to honor 14 names added since 2012.
The Kings County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 approved updated guidelines for the Freedom Memorial that clarify who is eligible to have a name added and designate the veteran services officer and the county executive officer (or designees) to coordinate reviews and any public ceremony.
Alex C. Walker (administrative analyst) explained the memorial’s history and noted that 14 names were added since 2012 without a formal ceremony because of resource constraints. Staff told the board the memorial first opened on April 9, 2006, and currently lists 808 names; the county proposed hosting a ceremony on or before Memorial Day 2026 to honor the 14 previously unrecognized names and make a good‑faith effort to contact families and veterans groups.
The recommended guideline changes remove redundancy, provide a clear definition of who qualifies as being "from Kings County," and shift ceremony planning responsibility to staff in order to avoid creating a committee that could trigger Brown Act concerns. Cody Pennington, the new county veteran services officer, thanked staff and emphasized coordination with families and veterans organizations.
Why it matters: The changes centralize administrative responsibility for memorial additions and aim to ensure families of service members receive formal recognition in a public ceremony tied to the memorial’s 20th anniversary.
What’s next: Staff will begin outreach to families and veterans groups, set a date near Memorial Day 2026 and return logistical details to the board as needed.
