More than 250 veterans are recognized at the Walk of Honor memorial at the Fresno VA campus. Photo by Ben Hensley

The Fresno VA Medical Center  Walk of Honor ceremony returns in November, with an application deadline fast approaching for veterans to be honored on the wall.

Veterans, families and friends of veterans have until Monday, Aug. 28 to submit applications to be honored with a plaque at the hospital, joining hundreds of veterans from across the country at the memorial.

The Fresno VA Medical Center is located at Clinton and Fresno streets. 

All branches of service are honored at the memorial, which will be updated this year to include new additions to the Walk of Honor.

 

On Saturday, Nov.18, the hospital will host its formal Walk of Honor ceremony at 10 a.m. to honor all veterans living and deceased who are named at the memorial.

“We are very proud to have the honor and responsibility of continuing the tradition of our Walk of Honor Memorial Garden,” said VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement Chief Mary Golden.

The Walk of Honor ceremony includes local dignitaries and veterans to be recognized. It can draw crowds of 800-1,200 visitors.

Friends and battle buddies alike can honor an honorably discharged veteran by filling out an application and returning it to the hospital, located at 2615 E. Clinton Ave., before Monday, Aug. 28. Applicants must submit a completed application, as well as verification of honorable discharge (form DD-214), or verification of Killed in Action (KIA) status, if applicable.

A $95 fee is also due with the application for the engraving process.

 

The Walk of Honor was designed in 2008 to be a living memorial for veterans. The wall resembles the local mountains and river, and honors all branches of the military — except for the Space Force, which will be added.

“It’s a living monument,” said Claudia Solis, VA public affairs specialist who herself will see several of her family members added to the memorial. “It’s a very sentimental place — very powerful when you walk through.”

Questions about the application process or the Walk of Honor can be directed to the hospital by email at V21FREwalkofhonor@va.gov or by phone at (559) 228-5364.