Cinco Puntos Memorial

Cinco Puntos Memorial

Location	Los Angeles, California
Coordinates	34°02′25″N118°11′34″W / 34.04027°N 118.19265°W / 34.04027; -118.19265
Material	Marble
Completion date	1947
Dedicated to	Mexican-American & Chicano veterans from Los Angeles

The Cinco Puntos Memorial, formally known as the Mexican American All Wars Monument, is a marble war memorial in Los Angeles, California, honoring the contributions of the city's Mexican-American/Chicano veterans. It is located at Cinco Puntos, at the crossroads between Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles. The memorial is known as the starting point of the 1968 Chicano Moratorium protests. ^{[1] [2]}

History

The monument was erected by the Comite Cívico Cultural Pro Raza (Spanish for "Pro Raza Cultural Civic Committee"), which held a groundbreaking ceremony on December 7, 1946. ^[3] The memorial was completed by 1947. ^[3] Originally dedicated solely to the fallen of World War II, it has since been rededicated to honor Mexican-American/Chicano veterans of all wars. ^[3]

On December 20, 1969, Cinco Puntos was the starting point of the first Chicano Moratorium, a march in protest of the Vietnam War. ^{[1] [4]}

The monument hosts a 24 hour vigil every year, from the day before to the morning of Memorial Day, culminating in a formal ceremony attended by local community leaders and politicians. ^{[1] [4]}

References

1. Los Angeles Conservancy - Los Cinco Puntos
2. California State Parks - 2018 Actions Taken
3. City of Los Angeles - Historic Places LA: Mexican American All Wars Memorial
4. Boyle Heights Beat - Residents invited to honor lost loved ones at Cinco Puntos Memorial Day event

External links

• Historical Marker Database - Mexican American All Wars Monument