Veterans Memorial Square
Monterey Rd and W. 1st St. Morgan Hill, CA 95037
How has a simple concrete roadway median in the heart of downtown Morgan Hill transformed into a place of remembrance?
The story of Veterans Memorial Square, located in the median at the intersection of Monterey Road and West 1st Street, is a narrative of grassroots effort. For years, local Vietnam War veteran Eddie Bowers felt a strong conviction that Morgan Hill needed a dedicated, permanent space to honor its military service members. In 1991, turning sentiment into action, Bowers and two committed volunteers, including fellow veteran Don Kinner, took it upon themselves to plan and build a public monument. Constructing the initial site out of cobblestone, the team created a multi-war memorial designed to ensure the community would never forget the human cost of protecting freedom.
The physical layout of the square was carefully designed to foster both public visibility and intimate contemplation. The space is framed by trees with a view of a central flagpole. Plaques are engraved with more than 100 names of local soldiers who have died in combat. The curved rock wall is a space for wreaths and floral arrangements brought to the site during public gatherings.
The main monument inscription reads,
"In honor of all the men and women who fought, gave their lives and remain missing in defense of The United States of America and the ideals for which it stands... MAY WE NEVER FORGET THAT FREEDOM IS NOT FREE."
Dedicated in two phases, on Memorial Days in 1991 and 1995, the square honors veterans who served across eras: World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and operations in Panama.
For over thirty years, Eddie Bowers has maintained the grounds and facilitated the city's official Memorial Day and Veterans Day services. These solemn ceremonies bring families and veterans together to experience color guards, local Youth Patriotic Sing, wreath-laying, and the traditional reading of the local military honor roll. This monument honors all the men and women who have served in the armed forces, including the equine and canine corps, and especially those who lost their lives protecting our freedom.