BARRIO LOGAN
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John Banuelos remembers watching the dark sedan pull up to the Point Loma dry cleaners where his father worked. The family was hanging out at the store, and everyone noticed that it was a government-issued car.
During wartime, nothing good could come of the visit.
It didn't. That was the day when Banuelos found out his older brother Albert, 23, had been killed in Vietnam, felled by a shot to the neck.
Now, 40 years later, Banuelos is hoping a group organized by a friend, Frank Peralta, can bring a dream to fruition in Chicano Park. They want to create a memorial to honor Banuelos' brother and others like him who served during an American conflict.
“We're still taking baby steps,” said Peralta, a Bonita resident who served in Vietnam with the Navy. “We're taking it real slow. There's going to be changes.”
The goal is to salute all veterans from Logan Heights, Barrio Logan and southeastern San Diego who served in war. A groundbreaking is tentatively planned for Veterans Day, but several steps remain before the memorial can be built.
Fundraising must continue, a budget hasn't been established and designs have yet to be submitted for consideration. A plot of land near the park's basketball courts has been identified as a possible site.
The organizers also are consulting with the Chicano Park Steering Committee, which maintains the park's famous murals and puts on the community's popular annual festival.
The organizers, who are associated with the the Don Diego Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Logan Heights, have created a Web site in support of their cause.
There they note that they want to “promote patriotism” without glorifying war or promoting “militaristic solutions” for the world's troubles. They also identify 12 themes for the memorial, including “Soldados” (Spanish for soldier), “Chicano veterans” and “in memory of our homeboys.”
During initial talks about the monument, organizers decided it should honor Mexican-American soldiers from the community who were killed in action. To that end, the Web site lists 20 former residents who died in combat – 14 during World War II, one in Korea and five in Vietnam.
A Marine killed in Iraq also is listed, although he is not connected to Logan Heights.
The vision for the memorial has changed over time. Peralta, a retired sheriff's deputy, said organizers expanded their horizons because some residents suggested it would be unfair to exclude those from other ethnic backgrounds.
They also decided to salute anyone from the area who had served in combat, not just those who died. Unlike the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and many others that were built afterward, names are not set to be included on the Logan Heights monument.
“We don't want to upset the community,” said Peralta, who feared his group could leave someone out by mistake. “We want them to be part of it.”
Banuelos is unsure of that development. He would like to see his brother's name inscribed on the memorial.
Albert Banuelos Jr., an Army sergeant, was highly decorated, earning two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam.
Four months after being wounded in May 1968, he re-entered battle, where he tried to help a wounded colleague. He was killed as he aided the man, just 30 days before his stint in Vietnam was set to end.
His family later accepted a Silver Star on his behalf.
“I think it would mean a lot to people we're starting to lose to give him, not only him, but all the others, the recognition they deserve,” said Banuelos, who lives in Sacramento.
Jennifer Vigil: (619) 718-5069; jennifer.vigil@uniontrib.com
