Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at the Riverside National Cemetery

The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument is located just behind the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater at the Riverside National Cemetery (22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA). As described on a website for a similar monument, "Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments honor the families of active military members who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Made of black granite, these double-sided monuments bear the inscription, Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom on one side. On the opposite side of the monument are scenes etched on each of the four panels: Homeland, Family, Patriot and Sacrifice. Centering this tribute is a silhouette of a saluting service member, representing those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.'

"The Gold Star Family Memorial was created by Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel “Woody" Williams to remember those families who have made the ultimate sacrifice. To learn more about the memorial and Woody's legacy, visit the Woody Williams Foundation website."

The Homeland panel features images distinctive of the Riverside area including a raincross, a cluster of oranges and a spread of California golden poppies.  

 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Statue

On the Main Street pedestrian mall in downtown Riverside (3900 Main St.) is a statue of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. with a young girl and boy.  It is labeled underneath with "I HAVE A DREAM", a reference to one of his most famous and inspirational speeches.  The statue was made by Lisa Reinertson in 1999.  It is part of the peace walk of prominent civil rights leaders along the pedestrian mall. A video of memorials on the civil right walk has recently been made by the City of Riverside.  

"Sower's Dream" Statue: A Tribute to Eliza Tibbets

A whimsical statue in honor of Eliza Lovell Tibbits entitled, Sower's Dream is found on the north part of the Main Street pedestrian mall (3635 Main St., Riverside).  It is flanked by two orange trees in recognition of Eliza Tibet's contribution to the citrus heritage of Riverside and California. [Eliza planted and nurtured the first navel orange tree in Riverside which was a key step in the development of the citrus industry in California. Nice articles about her can be found in The Atlantic magazine and on Wikipedia.]  The statue was sculpted by Guy Angelo Wilson and completed in 2011.  At the base is a brief description of Eliza's life as well as a poem written about her by the sculptor.  An article about the sculpture appeared in the Press Enterprise shortly before it was completed.  The statue is also considered part of the peace or civil rights walk in downtown which is described in a recent video by the city of Riverside.

Gandhi Statue and Memorial

A memorial to Mahatma Gandhi is sited within the Main Street pedestrian mall downtown at 3735 Main Street, Riverside.  The bronze sculpture is surrounded by quotes from Gandhi and others, such as "Live simply so that others may simply live".  The statue was created by Indian artists Mandan and Aruna Garge, and the architect for the memorial was the Community Design Group.  The memorial was completed in 2006 and dedicated in January 2007.  It is part of the peace or civil rights walk within the pedestrian mall and is featured in a recent video by the city of Riverside.

Fallen Soldier/Veterans' Memorial and Statue at the Riverside National Cemetery

The Fallen Soldier/Veterans' Memorial in the Riverside National Cemetery (22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside) contains, as described on the Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee website, a dark statue of "an unknown lifeless body of a soldier in which the boots and hands are the only things visibly distinguishable, sits atop a 12-foot pedestal. As the face of the soldier and most of the body is hidden with a large cloak.  The unknown soldier represents any man or woman, any rank or division and stands as a silent memorial of every American who has given their lives in combat." It was sculpted by Thomas Schomberg and donated to the Cemetery by Thomas and Judy Kane in 2000. 

Medal of Honor Memorial at the Riverside National Cemetery

The Medal of Honor Memorial at the Riverside National Cemetery (22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside) is a simple, beautiful and solemn site. The principal designers were Jeff Crumbaker, of The Patrician Group, and Tim Maloney, of the Community Works Design Group.  The  memorial was dedicated in 1999. Below are photos of the memorial, some of its artistic features, and at this link a short video showing the interior of the memorial.  

American Indian Veterans' Memorial Statue at the Riverside National Cemetery

A Memorial to American Indian Veterans is planned for the Riverside National Cemetery (22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside).  The site, by the lake near the entrance and the POW/MIA Memorial, has been selected and fundraising is ongoing. The sculpture entitled The Gift has been made by sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg and is at the cemetery waiting for the memorial to be completed. The twice-life sized statue shows a dignified and resolute native American wrapped in a Continental flag holding a Jefferson Medal - the gift given to the native American tribes in the early days of our country as a token of peace and friendship. It is shown here as a representation of the service of American Indian veterans.  One of the groundskeepers showed me the statue which is currently in a maintenance yard.  More information about the statue and memorial can be found here and a series of videos about it can be found through the Schomberg studio website.  

MIA/POW Statue and Memorial at the Riverside National Cemetery

Within the MIA/POW Memorial in the Riverside National Cemetery (22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside) is an emotion-evoking statue of a prisoner on his knees in captivity. According to a US Department of Veterans Affairs website, "The Prisoner of War/Missing in Action National Memorial was designated as a national memorial by the U.S. Congress in 2004 through Public Law 108-454. The memorial was dedicated on September 16, 2005. Vietnam veteran Lewis Lee Millett, Jr., sculpted the bronze statue which depicts an American serviceman on his knees with hands bound by his captors. The statue is surrounded by black marble pillars that evoke imprisonment."