A very special Memorial Day weekend event was held last Sunday, May 29 at the Van Nuys Sherman Oaks War Memorial Park. In spite of 40-mph winds, everyone had a fabulous time – not just the audience and the entertainment, but most especially, and most importantly, the
veterans and current military who attended.
The event — complete with a concert in the park — was presented by the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council and the Horace Heidt Big Band Foundation to commemorate the 63rd Anniversary of the gift from the American Legion Post 193 of the 10-acre property that became the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks War Memorial Park. The Van Nuys Sherman Oaks War Memorial Park could not have been a more fitting venue.
The park was founded to give tribute to America’s fallen heroes and also to honor American veterans and current military members in general. In 1947, when the local G.I.s came back to the Valley from World War II, they pooled their money together and bought 10 acres of property at Hudson Street and Hazeltine Avenue in Sherman Oaks.
They donated that property to the City of Los Angeles, with the stipulation that a war memorial monument would be built there in a public park for all to remember the great sacrifices given for America’s freedom. These G.I.s later joined the American Legion Post 193 (which was originally founded in 1923), and the post has continued to celebrate all patriotic holidays each year in their donated section of the park, which is distinguished by a small marker. There is no actual monument in the park, as the park itself is the monument to them.
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