The Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Moving Wall) came to Bellevue in the summer of 2001. It was sponsored by Dignity Memorial along with Sunset Hills Memorial Park, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2995, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #423, and many other veterans groups.

Numerous visitors left behind personal artifacts in memory of their loved ones or friends whose names are on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. These artifacts were not allowed to travel with the Wall nor were they allowed to be included with the artifacts left at the Wall in D.C. Hence, the local Veteran groups agreed to retain the artifacts until a proper monument could be created to entomb them inside a vault.

After the terrorist attacks occurred on 11 September 2001, the idea of the monument went through some conceptual changes. On the first planning meeting between Dignity Memorial, Sunset Hills, Washington Arms Collectors, and 2995 Honor Guard, it was decided to enlarge the Veterans Memorial to include the Fire Fighters and Police Officers who had also fallen in the line of duty. Additionally, a decision was made to move the monument from the site where the Vietnam Wall Experience took place, to the top center of the entrance of Sunset Hills Memorial Park. This allows everyone entering the park to see it and just maybe, for that brief moment, take pause to remember that freedom is not free and that a great price has been paid by many. With this meeting, the idea of a local Veterans Memorial was transformed into a working project named the “All American Memorial”.

Dignity Memorial and Sunset Hills Memorial Park donated the land for the Memorial. Washington Arms Collectors and VFW #2995 Honor Guard were chosen to sponsor it. Additional groups “authorized” to raise funds for the memorial are: Bellevue Police Dept, Redmond Police Dept, Bellevue Fire Dept, Redmond Fire Dept, King County Police Department, Vietnam Veterans of America Sno-King Chapter #423, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2995, and American Legion Post #161.

The plan called for the monument to consist of two benches with flag holders made of charcoal black granite. One flagpole would fly the Washington State flag and the other would fly the POW-MIA flag. Nestled between these benches would sit a striking monument embossed with the five Armed Services insignias, the POW-MIA insignia, and the insignias for both Firefighters and Policemen. Behind the monument, a taller flagpole would fly the flag of the United States. The monument would be lighted 24 hours a day, symbolic that we must be vigilant 24 hours a day as a nation lest our freedoms slip away.

During the later meetings, it was decided to expand the size of the monument by adding 13’ x 24’ American Flags made from red, white, and blue granite bricks. The number of flags will only be limited by the size of the site and Sunset Hills willingness to donate additional land. Each brick will be 12” x 12” x 3”. The blue field of the flag, engraved with the 50 white stars, is not available for ”service data”. The red and white bricks will be engraved with the appropriate “service data” supplied by persons wishing to Sponsor a Brick. The cost of each $300.00 brick is allocated as follows:

a) $110.00 for the cost of the granite brick and the engraved service data

b) a 3% Administrative fee is retained by VSFW for providing the “umbrella” status for the project and maintaining the financial accounts/records required by government regulations

c) the remaining amount is used for the primary cost of the Memorial, as well as costs incurred for design changes and additions (such as the blue bricks)

Ultimately, the Board of Directors of the All American Memorial Foundation has final determination of the allocations and may re-allocate portions to provide funds for on-going maintenance, future events at the site, or expansion of their Film & Education program.

The most recent change/addition being looked at is to install some large granite tablets behind the memorial to hold all the names of Veterans, Peace Officers, and Fire Fighters that are buried at Sunset Hills.

It is everyone’s hope that the “All American Memorial” will serve as a fitting and lasting monument to freedom and as remembrance to all of our fallen comrades in uniform.

To send a tax deductible donation to help fund the Memorial, make your check payable to: All American Memorial and mail it to:

The “All American Memorial” is a project administered under the 501(c)3 umbrella of the Veterans Service Foundation of Washington (91-1524173). As such, the books will be made available for examination at a designated time and place established by the Executive Treasurer. Requests for this examination may be mailed to the address listed above for the Veterans Service Foundation. Please identify the names of all individuals who will be in attendance and specify what particular items are desired available for the review.

For more information about the “All American Memorial” located at Sunset Hills Memorial Park, please contact: Harry Blakeman (Project Director) (425)306-8877

Copyright © 2001-2006 Veterans Service Foundation of Washington. All rights reserved