America’s so-called “forgotten war” — the Korean Conflict — is being remembered in Manteca.

The Manteca Mural Society is dedicating its Korean War mural on Saturday, May 21, at 11 a.m. at the Bedquarters parking lot at Yosemite Avenue and Main Street in downtown Manteca.

The location near the intersection — which has 22,000 plus vehicles passing through it on an average day — will help make sure Manteca residents remember the Korean War.

Manteca resident Eldon Regua — a retired two-star Major General in the United States Army — is the guest speaker.  His first duty assignment was in West Germany in 1977 and his last assignment was in South Korea in 2013 spanning over 36 years of service to the nation.

The mural costing $25,O00 to create will be displayed next to existing murals on World War II and the Global War on Terror. Two more murals are yet to be done. The Vietnam War is next followed by World War I.

Some of the suggestions from the veterans and community that are being included in the mural are

uKorean cold winters

uAircraft carrier

uA Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) unit.

uA portrait of Alvin Mendes, a Korean Veteran from Manteca who is still listed as missing in action.  

uMap of Korea, showing the 38th parallel, along with a symbol of the Marine landing at Inchon.  

uThe F-86 Sabre jet, the C-124 Globemaster II cargo/paratrooper drop and the H-13 Sioux helicopter which was first used in the Korean War.  

uThe United States Flag 

uThe Korean government’s “Ambassador for Peace Medal” presented to all Korean Veterans will be displayed in the mural.  

Those interested in donating to helping make the next two murals a reality can visit www.mantecamurals.com to use a PayPal link to donate on line, or you can mail a check to Manteca Mural Society, P.O. Box 1666 Manteca Ca. 95336.  For information call  Charleen Carroll at  823.1386.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com