Cerritos Veterans Memorial

Cerritos Veterans Memorial is a granite monument in the city's Civic Center featuring a 20-foot stainless steel flame sculpture positioned above a reflecting pool. Five pedestals surrounding the pool display emblems and inscriptions honoring the military branches.

The memorial was dedicated in 2006 and sparked the city's first Veterans Day ceremony. Since then, the site has hosted annual Memorial Day events to honor those who served.

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.

A separate pedestal features the Merchant Marine emblem, added following community input during the planning stages. This addition resulted from discussions that expanded the memorial's scope to recognize all maritime service.

Location: California

Inception: November 1, 2006

Made from material: granite

GPS coordinates: 33.86616,-118.06438

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:42