Veteran's Living Memorial Sculpture Garden

The Veteran's Living Memorial Sculpture Garden is located on Highway 97, about 13 miles north-east of the town of Weed, in the Northern California County of Siskiyou, about 50 miles from the Oregon border. The area is planted with thousands of pine trees and contains 10 large metal sculptures created by the amazingly talented, Vietnam Veteran, Mr. Dennis Smith.

When you pull up to the park you don’t have any idea what lies inside. It’s very unassuming from the highway with just a plain sign and a large area you can park in. Once inside you find an unmanned information booth with information on the sculptures and park, clean restrooms, a donation dedication wall and a memorial wall dedicated to the helicopter pilots of foreign wars.

Once inside, and towards the back of the garden, there is a short path leading to the handicapped accessible labyrinth. The labyrinth is meant to be walked and for you to meditate while walking along it. The walking is flat and the views of local Mt. Shasta are amazing. This is a great place to spend some time thinking about our country and the men and women who have died fighting for our freedoms.

There is a path that leads through the sculpture garden itself. The path is about a mile long and in a loop shape. This path can be walked or driven as it is wide enough for a vehicle to go down. As you make your way down the path you find that there are many creatures that inhabit the garden. We have seen squirrels, chipmunks, many birds and lizards while walking in the area. If you are very fortunate you may even see one of the local bald or golden eagles of the area. 

As you follow the path you find little alcoves that house the sculptures themselves. They each have a name and each represent some form of service or sacrifice to our country. The sculptures, like the one in the photo, evoke your feelings and thoughts of war, those who have fought, those who returned, and those who were lost. They make you think, make you smile, and they make you cry. 

Sculpture by Dennis Smith, Veteran's Living Memorial Sculpture Garden, Siskiyou County CA.

Credit: Donna Hentsch

Copyright: Donna Hentsch