OROVILLE — Grass is torn out and concrete is being removed, but the veterans memorial first conceived more than 20 years ago is nearing a hopeful completion date next year.
“We’re in one of the last phases of construction,” said Daryl Autrey, the secretary of the Oroville Veterans Memorial Park Committee.
Much of the memorial park’s funding has been raised by through the efforts of the community and the committee, but the final phase is thanks in part to a $1 million federal grant secured through Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s office in December 2023.
Rock Creek Construction Co. workers were tearing out and replacing some concrete Wednesday to finish the hardscaping.
Oroville, California’s block “O” is seen on Table Mountain as concrete masons Michael Wilson, left, and Kevin Dugger of Rock Creek Construction Co. work to remove and replace concrete at the Butte County Veterans Memorial on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Oroville, California. (Dan Reidel/Enterprise-Record)
When it’s all done, the Butte County Veterans Memorial Park will have a bronze bugler sculpture, six service flags near Montgomery Street, two special monuments for the two Butte County service members who received the Medal of Honor and a Merchant Marine monument.
In addition there will be a monument to the Hmong community’s “secret war” in Laos.
“We were approached by the Hmong community to do that, and we thought it was an excellent thing to do,” Autrey said.
The original impetus for the memorial park was to remember those who gave their lives in military service.
Concrete mason Michael Wilson of Rock Creek Construction Co. braces himself as he works carefully to remove concrete near the wall of names Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 at the Butte County Veterans Memorial in Oroville, California. (Dan Reidel/Enterprise-Record)
To that end, on the Feather River overlook, there will be six war monuments that will include the names of the more than 550 military service members from Butte County who died in service.
A lawn, seating areas and more monuments including an eagle sculpture are set to make up the rest of the park.
Autrey said the work currently being done will include putting in infrastructure for security cameras and a drainage structure. Also, the lights near the wall of names at the memorial park need to be replaced after “having some issues, especially when it rains.”
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He said he believes the idea for memorial was first conceived around 2001, but the project is moving closer and closer to completion.
“We hope to finish sometime in early 2025,” he said.
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