In April of 2001, the entire Corona City Council unanimously approved the Corona Veterans’ Memorial’s planning, construction and eventual dedication.
The Corona Veterans’ Memorial Division is composed of Corona-Norco area military veterans and community leaders. They are all volunteers without compensation. Please help them in making this patriotic project a reality.
The Corona City Council approved the Veterans’ Memorial concept out of gratitude and appreciation of the service and sacrifices of Corona-Norco active military personnel and military veterans have made. These actions have enabled the citizens of the United States to continue to enjoy the freedoms guaranteed to us by the Constitution of the United States through the Bill of Rights and the Amendments.
The Corona Veterans’ Memorial was the dream of Ruben Rasso, a Vietnam War veteran and former longtime Corona resident. He sought to honor his Corona High School friend Timothy McKiernan, a former Norco resident, and all other Corona-Norco area veterans.
Mc Kiernan was a helicopter pilot assigned to the 117th Assault Helicopter Company, known as the “Warlords.” On January28, 1968, while en route to a mission over hostile territory in Vietnam McKiernan’s helicopter experienced mechanical failure.
McKiernan brought the helicopter down in a manner that enabled the helicopter crew to survive the crash as well as many children who were playing in a nearby schoolyard below the helicopter’s flight pattern. McKiernan sacrificed his life in order that others might live. Ruben Rasso was assigned to the 117th Helicopter Company, as well. He witnessed the deadly helicopter crash. He ran to the crash site in an attempt to help extricate Timothy McKiernan, but the helicopter exploded before he arrived.
The Corona-Norco public was unaware of the courage displayed by Timothy McKiernan at the time of his death. That act of courage inspired Ruben Rasso to honor McKiernan and all area veterans who served and made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the United States of America.
The names of memorial nominees will be limited to veterans who resided or reside within the boundaries of the Corona-Norco Unified School District and the communities therein. Those areas are the following: Corona, Norco, Mira Loma, Eastvale, Green River, Coronita, Home Gardens, Lake Matthews, El Cerrito and Temescal Canyon.
The Corona Veterans’ Memorial Phase I and Phase II will honor all Corona-Norco area veterans beginning with World War I through the present War in Iraq and beyond. Veterans must have been discharged under Honorable or General conditions. For details go to www.coronaveteransmemorialdivision.org.
The memorial will be a great source of Community Pride. It will be a historical as well as educational venue for the Corona-Norco area. The veterans to be listed therein are true American heroes and will serve as positive role models for this and future generations. It will be an eternal tribute to Corona-Norco Veterans and the sacrifices they made; their fruit, freedom, which is still flourishing today.
Phase I is to be built in the south interior courtyard of the new Corona City Hall. It will honor and list all Corona-Norco area veterans living and deceased, who served in all five military branches.
Phase II is to be built on the eastern half of the plaza on the south side of the new city hall building. It will honor and list all Corona-Norco area veterans from all five military branches killed in action or missing in action.
Construction of the memorial will be very costly. Phase I will cost approximately 550,000.00. The memorial fundraising committee will be seeking financial support from many sources. Some of them are the following : federal government, state government and county government assistance, as well as private and public grants.
At the community level the fundraising Committee has established a comprehensive campaign aimed at obtaining the support and financial participation of the community as well as individuals.
The Corona Veterans’ Memorial Division is an unincorporated division of Corona Partners for Parks and Recreation. Donations are tax deductible pursuant to 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code for non-profit corporations. Please make checks payable to:
Corona Veterans' Memorial Division
C/O Corona Partners for Parks and Recreation
400 S. Vicentia Ave
Corona CA 92882-2187.
If further questions, call (951) 232-7338.
Thanks For Your Support.
RUBEN RASSO
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT
CORONA VETERANS’ MEMORIAL DIVISION
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