Pico Rivera council approves Purple Heart monument for Memorial Plaza, unveiling set for May 21

Pam Yugar, director of Parks and Recreation, presented the final design and inscription for a Purple Heart monument to be installed in the city’s Veterans Memorial Plaza. The Veterans Commission voted 5–0 to recommend the selected design, which the council approved on a roll-call vote (4–0).

Yugar said the monument’s front inscription will read in part: “Military Order of the Purple Heart honoring the men and women wounded and killed in war.” She also read a line that will appear on the monument’s slab: “Not all heroes return unmarked, but every mark tells a story of love for country.” The city will add the date the city was recognized as a Purple Heart City (Feb. 27, 2024) to the monument.

The council discussed placement and materials; staff said the stone was matched to existing Memorial Plaza granite to ensure visual continuity with the eternal flame area. A separate unveiling ceremony has been scheduled for Thursday, May 21, at 6 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial Plaza.

Several veterans and veterans’ advocates—including Ruben Valencia and Rudy Casas—spoke during public comment in support of the monument, describing its symbolic importance to local veterans and families. The council thanked commissioners, staff and community leaders for advancing the design and for their work on placement and inscriptions.

Ending: The council approved the design and authorized staff to proceed with fabrication and installation ahead of the planned May unveiling.