SAN PEDRO : Korean War Monument Clears Hurdle

After more than seven years of sometimes nasty debate, the Korean War Veterans Memorial Committee has cleared one of the last remaining hurdles to creating a monument in San Pedro to veterans.

At a recent public hearing, William E. Lillenberg, associate zoning administrator for the city, ordered a few minor changes in the city’s application for the memorial on four acres in Angels Gate Park, and said the paperwork is finally ready to submit to the state Coastal Commission for approval.

“The nit-picking is over with,” said Rick Seward, past president of the memorial committee. “There are men in this room with scars on their hearts and scars on their bodies who deserve this memorial.”

The memorial was first approved by the parks commission in 1987, but criticism from the community brought considerable changes to its first configuration, which had huge bronze soldiers aiming guns at the enemy. Neighbors said the monument was too big and the image too violent.

They also complained that it was inappropriate to have such a statue near the Korean Friendship Bell, a symbol of goodwill given to the city by the people of South Korea. And 30-foot lighting would be a garish intrusion on the ocean vista, residents said.

In a compromise, the monument will comprise life-sized statues of men and one woman in the lull of battle and will be placed on a site between two World War I batteries near the Ft. McArthur Military Museum.

The city Parks Department will add ground-level security lighting and consider changing the landscaping.

The memorial committee still needs a city building permit before getting the final OK on the project. That approval could come in March or April, said John Elliott, the committee’s administrative services director. After that, four months are needed to construct the monument, he said.