David Keith

"War is the tempering of the heart," said David Keith, president of the Monterey County Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Committee, at the event."It is the heart of the young man or woman who goes to sign up and join our military."

The memorial was 20 years in the making.Keith received a plaque from the committee's members for two decades of work to complete the memorial.

"This project has been about honor and integrity and giving credit where credit is due," said Reese McKinley, a committee member who presented Keith with his award.
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To help pay for the upkeep and cost of the Monterey County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Monument, contact Committee President David Keith at pops@santacruzsurf.com or write Monterey County Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Committee, P.O. Box 547, Salinas, CA., 93902.

The ceremony ended with words from Vietnam veteran Dave Keith, president of the Monterey County Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Committee.Keith came up with the idea for the memorial park two decades ago.

"The 78 men, the 50,000, they didn't give their lives because they wanted to," Keith said."It could have happened to any of us.They gave up two lives , the ones they were living and the ones they could have lived. ...They sacrificed that for us."

Keith was present at the first Memorial Day service at All Veterans Memorial Park.

David Keith, president of the Monterey County Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Committee, was awarded a plaque by the committee's members for two decades of work and dedication to complete the memorial.

"This project has been about honor and integrity and giving credit where credit is due," said Reese McKinley, a committee member who presented Keith with his award.

Dave Keith, whose brother was killed in the Vietnam War, holds a presidential memorial certificate honoring his brother's bravery Thursday at the Monterey County Vietnam Veterans Park in Salinas.
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Dave Keith, president of Monterey County Vietnam Veterans Memorial committee, served 27 months and lost 13 relatives in Vietnam.He said the certificates are a way to pay tribute to the fallen heroes.

"They gave up their families, the ability to watch the ocean, see the sunset and feel the breeze on their face," Keith said.
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The families of the veterans are touched by the children's efforts, Keith said.

"Those children didn't know much about the war," he said.

War veterans, their families and survivors of those who didn't return home from Vietnam participated in a two-hour ceremony at Salinas' All Veterans Park, said David Keith, president of the Monterey County Vietnam Veterans Committee.

David Keith, president of the Monterey County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee, raises the American flag Sunday as Odas Flake, of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, looks on.

"As a nation, we're going to falter if we don't remember our veterans," Dave Keith, president of the Monterey County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee, told the crowd of about 150."All too often the nation becomes complacent and takes for granted the freedoms we all enjoy."

Keith also thanked the city and county for contributing land and money for the memorial, and the numerous local businesses that have lent support.

Many other veterans spoke, as well as representatives of the city and county.

The park features a hill overlooking a grassy area with picnic tables.Atop the hill are flags, a specially designed concrete walkway, and a wooden flag with the names of Salinas soldiers who died in Vietnam making up the stripes.

The memorial committee hopes to add to the hilltop in the next year.