The United States Marine Corps has been a valuable neighbor of San Clemente since the early 1940's when the Marine Base was established and dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This community has seen Marines pass through our town during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Gulf War. They have been our neighbors, sons, daughters, husbands, wives and community leaders. As a community, we have honored them with barbecues and parades, but we have not honored them with a permanent reminder of our respect and appreciation for them.