[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E889-E890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING VETERANS PARK CONSERVANCY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHRISTOPHER COX

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 2002

  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make my colleagues aware of 
Veterans Park Conservancy, a community group founded in 1986 to help 
manage Veterans Park, which covers 700 acres of land in West Los 
Angeles, California. Originally gifted to the Federal Government, 
Veterans Park is home to a number of historically and culturally 
significant sites, including the Los Angeles National Cemetery, the 
Wadsworth Theatre, and several memorials honoring our veterans. It is 
also one of the last remaining open spaces in West Los Angeles.
  The mission of Veterans Park Conservancy is simple: ``Honoring our 
Veterans, Cherishing the Land.'' The Veterans Park Conservancy was 
organized to develop and implement a long-term plan to protect the 
park. Soon after its inception, the group developed a 25-year Master 
Plan that identifies key restoration projects. In 1998, the Department 
of Veterans Affairs officially granted Veterans Park Conservancy the 
authority to carry out these projects. The group's partners include 
veterans, the Federal Government, local and state agencies, community 
organizations, and private philanthropists.
  Throughout its 16-year history, Veterans Park Conservancy has 
spearheaded several projects in West Los Angeles and their fine work is 
a testament to their dedication to America's veterans. Beginning in 
1994, the group led the charge to improve a one-mile section of 
Wilshire Boulevard as ``Veterans Parkway,'' and collaborated with Los 
Angeles County to improve the parkway with cobblestones, lighting, and 
600 new trees. After the September 11th attacks, Veterans Park 
Conservancy worked with the Federal and local governments to install a 
permanent memorial of 100 American Flags, which fly proudly on both 
sides of the boulevard.
  In 1998, Veterans Park Conservancy restored the Spanish-American War 
Memorial, which sits at the entrance of the Los Angeles National 
Cemetery. In 2000, the group gave the cemetery a stately new entrance, 
new trees an 7,800 feet of wrought iron perimeter

[[Page E890]]

fencing--all of which elevate this beautiful memorial to its rightful 
status a ``The Arlington of the West.'' Every Memorial Day, the 
Veterans Park Conservancy works with scout troops to place American 
flags on each of the 85,000 veterans' graves, creating fields of 
inspirational red, white and blue.
  I also want to commend Veterans Park Conservancy for their effort to 
pass legislation to name the chapel at the National Cemetery the ``Bob 
Hope Veterans Chapel.'' I am also pleased to have had the opportunity 
to work with the group along with the gentleman from California, Mr. 
Waxman, in creating a lasting honor to our country's most beloved 
honorary ``veteran.''
  For all these reasons, it is my pleasure to pay tribute to the many 
good works of the Veterans Park Conservancy and to wish them many more 
years of success.

                          ____________________