Cerritos Veterans Memorial, Military memorial in Cerritos, United States.
Cerritos Veterans Memorial is a 20-foot-high stainless steel sculpture shaped like a flame, set atop a reflecting pool on the grounds of the Cerritos Civic Center. Designed and built by artist James T. Russell, it is surrounded by five pedestals bearing the emblems of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, with two additional pedestals set off to the side.
Dedicated on November 11, 2006, the memorial hosted Cerritos's first annual Veterans Day ceremony. The city's first annual Memorial Day ceremony followed in 2008. In 2007 the city moved its Let Freedom Ring Fourth of July ceremony to the memorial grounds, and in 2010 it held its Patriot Day concert there.
The site displays emblems representing all five military branches and honors veterans across different service eras. Visitors can walk around and understand what each branch represents in the nation's defense.
The memorial is located in the Civic Center and is free to visit throughout the year, making it straightforward to access. The grounds are easy to navigate with open pathways around the sculpture and water features.
At the November 22, 2005, City Council meeting, a long public debate over adding a sixth pedestal for the Merchant Marine ended in a compromise: its emblem stands apart from the five main branches. A second side pedestal honors the 32 groups Congress recognized for World War I and World War II efforts.
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