The City of Downey Veterans Memorial is dedicated to the men and women who have served faithfully to preserve the freedoms of the American people.  

This Veterans Memorial page indicates the guidelines for the engraving of veteran names on the City’s Veterans Memorial outside of City Hall.

CRITERIA

1. Veteran must have been a resident of Downey and have lived in Downey for at least 5 years.
2. Veteran must have passed away in combat while serving in the U.S. armed forces.
3. Veteran must have one of the following United States Department of Defense designations:     
   • Killed in Action (KIA) - Classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their forces  at the hand of hostile forces. Per the United States Department of Defense (DOD),   those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to  hostile attack.
     
     

   • Missing in Action (MIA) - United States Military personnel designated by their Service Secretary as missing in action (MIA). The status applies to those MIA during any campaign or hostile action involving U.S. Military intervention or declared war. 

   • Purple Heart recipient - Military decoration for those killed in action.

PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY

1. Proof of Downey Residency

A copy of a minimum of two of the following is required for proof that the Veteran lived in Downey for at least five years. All documents must have the Veteran's name:

• Birth Certificate
• Newspaper Birth Announcement
• Hospital Records
• California Driver’s License
• Certified Home of Record/Enlistment Paperwork
• Downey Private or Public School Records/Identification
• School Records
• Utility Bill
• Financial Records (Bank statements, credit card statements, etc.)

2. Proof of Military Designations

Provide a copy of one of the following to verify the US Department of Defense designation: 

• The “Certified Report of Incident” issued by the military
• Newspaper Article
• Death Certificate
• History Book
• Newspaper/Internet Obituary 
• Department of Defense Data
• Internet or print records from Museums, Libraries, Military or Church Organizations (such as the National Personal Records Center and the Department of Defense)
• Other legal documentation verifying branch, rank, and eligible designation

Individuals wishing to submit a name to be engraved on the City’s Veterans Memorial can submit their request to the City Manager’s Office at citymanager@downeyca.org or at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, 3rd Floor, Downey CA 90241, with the required proof of eligibility and application form.

Please contact (562) 904-7284 with any questions.