Memorial Day Ceremony Area and Monument Planned for Coachella Valley Cemetery
The East Valley Memorials Foundation is moving forward with its plans to build a Memorial Day Ceremony and Monument at the Coachella Valley Cemetery, and they count Fourth District Supervisor Roy Wilson and the cities of Indio and Palm Desert as major supporters.
Those two cities and Supervisor Wilson have each made $25,000 grants available to the Foundation for the improvements to the cemetery honoring Coachella Valley service personnel who lost their lives protecting their country. A black granite wall with the names of the honored war dead will be placed behind a newly-designed presenter’s stand.
In addition, the Memorial Foundation, a registered non-profit organization, is actively seeking donations from the public to help preserve the memory of veterans and to create projects that foster patriotism.
The Foundation is also selling 6-inch square commemorative tiles, so that family members and friends can honor veterans, living or dead. The tiles cost $100 each, and will be permanently placed on a "Wall of Honor" in the Ceremony Area. For more information, contact East Valley Memorials Foundation President Joe Zelazny at 347-0841. Or call either 1st Vice President Mike Pierson at 831-0791 or 2nd Vice President Felipe Castanada at 391-5216.
Pierson says that the organization is working on creating a website, and that they are very interested in finding a volunteer who could help them establish one.
Construction has begun on the Memorial Day Ceremony Area and Monument, and is expected to be finished in time for Memorial Day, May 26, 2008.
The East Valley Memorial Association’s address is P.O. Box 1679, Indio 92202.
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