On Monday (May 25th), our nation will observe Memorial Day. It’s a time for Americans to reflect on the sacrifices that military personnel and their families make to keep us all safe, and to mourn those who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
If you are not familiar with Irvine’s rich military history, our City was home to the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) for nearly six decades. It was commissioned in 1943 during World War II and became the Center for Support Operations & Combat Readiness of Fleet Forces in the Pacific during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The air station was also home to thousands of military families.
Over its nearly 60-year storied history, El Toro MCAS provided a training facility for tens of thousands of Marines, pilots, mechanics and related personnel. The air traffic control and radar facility was equipped with the most advanced technology of its time, making the air station one of the nation’s premier training grounds for air traffic control personnel.
MCAS was decommissioned in 1999. A few years later, the land was transferred to the City of Irvine, and is now home to our Great Park.
After more than a decade of tireless work by Mayor Larry Agran and thousands of Irvine residents, a Veterans Memorial Park & Gardens is being built at the Great Park to honor the history and legacy of the former air station.
The City’s official rendering of the project is displayed below:
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Earlier this month, the project’s construction contractor, Miller Environmental, began submitting the required pre-construction documents, environmental notices, and a full construction schedule for the project.
The first phase of construction is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks. Upon completion, the Veterans Memorial Park & Gardens will include the restored aircraft control tower, memorial gardens, a Walk of Honor with a linear water feature, a Remembrance Green for quiet reflection, and an interconnected network of walking trails. Encircling the memorial grounds, a landscaped Perimeter Park will provide a scenic transition between the Veterans Memorial Park and the surrounding neighborhoods. Lined with trees, trails, historical markers, and interpretive installations, the space will honor and commemorate the City’s rich military heritage.
This Memorial Day, let’s join together as a community in celebrating this important legacy project!
