Veterans Memorial Replica Set for Citrus Heights
A 95% replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is planned at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, with about $5 million of the $7 million needed raised so far.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Philanthropy
Live Poll
Would you support local donations to build a veterans memorial in your community?
The Citrus Heights Veterans Memorial Project is building a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Citrus Heights. The replica is 95% the size of the Washington, D.C. monument and will carry the same 58,281 names.
Why it matters
Traveling to Washington, D.C. is not feasible for many West Coast veterans, and a permanent local memorial would give them access closer to home. Thousands attended a 2023 traveling exhibit in Citrus Heights, which the project cites as evidence of demand.
The project has raised roughly $5 million toward a $7 million construction target, with construction set to begin only once all funds are secured. The organization hopes a company or private donor will step forward to close the remaining gap.
The players
Citrus Heights Veterans Memorial Project
The local organization leading fundraising and construction efforts for a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Citrus Heights, operating under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Project in Washington, D.C.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Project
The Washington, D.C.-based organization that oversees the original Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the Citrus Heights project.
The details
The memorial will be built at Calvary Catholic Cemetery between Greenback Lane and Antelope Road, east of Interstate 80, and will be made of the same black granite as the Washington, D.C. monument. The project operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Project in Washington, D.C., and construction plans are already approved.
Timeline
2023: A traveling Vietnam exhibit visited Citrus Heights.
November 12, 2026: An article reported on the memorial project's fundraising progress.
Philanthropy Context
The Citrus Heights project extends the 1982 dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. by reproducing its granite design and 58,281 names for a region far from the capital. Its funding model, built on private donations rather than government appropriation, follows the community-led approach used to bring the original monument to completion.
Residents who want to support the project can contribute to the roughly $2 million still needed. No public visiting dates or opening timeline have been announced yet.
The takeaway
Community fundraising can bring large civic projects closer to the people they honor, but construction depends on funding reaching its full goal before work begins.
Further reading
Explore more philanthropy coverage to see how local donors are funding community projects like this one.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KCRA.
Live Poll
Would you support local donations to build a veterans memorial in your community?
