Legal News

Lawsuit challenges building of war memorial

By Richard Binder

A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by advocacy group The City Project argues that the Eugene A. Obregon Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial would alter parts of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles site that have important historical connections to the city's Native American, Chinese American and other ethnic communities. The suit also says officials did not obtain proper approvals when they allowed crews to begin work within a grass-covered part of the historical site known as Father Serra Park.

The City Project demands a cessation of work on the memorial until a full environmental review is completed.

The first stage of the memorial, which consists of a 30-foot long, 5-foot-high plaster wall covered with tiles bearing the names of nearly 3,500 medal recipients, has nearly been finished. The memorial's sponsors also plan a 20-foot high pyramidal monument paying tribute to the medal's 40 Hispanic recipients as well as a statue of the memorial's namesake, Marine Pfc. Eugene A. Obregon, depicting him coming to the rescue of a comrade during the Korean War.

Full story here.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on December 04, 2009 (boomark / email).