Mesquite veterans chose the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day to dedicate the newest addition to the Mesquite Veterans Memorial Park on Dec. 7 as a bronze eagle with a six-foot wing span was unveiled. Photo by Barbara Ellestad.

It was a fitting day to dedicate the newest addition to the Mesquite Veterans Memorial Park as a large crowd of residents and veterans joined with the Virgin Valley High School band to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day on Dec. 7.

In the bright early morning sunshine, a bronze eagle with a six-foot wing span atop a six-foot marble base was unveiled by Mesquite veteran Ed Fizer, other volunteers with the Mesquite Veterans Center, and city officials.

“It’s remarkable that this city is so patriotic,” Fizer said as he opened the ceremonies.

The statute has been in the planning stages for over a year as Fizer worked with Nick Montoya, City of Mesquite Director of Athletics & Leisure Services Dept. on the display area. Home Depot donated half of the marble tiles on the pedestal with the city and vets chipping in on the rest. Home Depot also installed all the marble free of charge.

Two distinguished Mesquite Veterans, Tom Stetler, left, and Eddie Gutierrez attended the unveiling of a bronze eagle statute atop a marble base that sits at the entrance of the Mesquite Veterans Memorial Park oon Dec. 7. Stetler is a Korean War veteran and Gutierrez is a World War II veteran. Photo by Barbara Ellestad.

Kokopelli Landscaping provided the pedestal base for the eagle and the landscaping surrounding the display. Montoya’s department helped rearrange water lines and other landscaping areas.

Ed Fizer addresses a large audience of Mesquite residents and veterans at the Mesquite Veterans Memorial Park on Dec. 7 to honor the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day and unveil the newest addition to the park – a bronze eagle atop a marble base.

Commemorative inscribed bricks being sold by the Veterans Center will provide more detail to the ground area under the base as it’s filled out in the coming months. Proceeds from the brick sales will help pay for the eagle statute.

Dog tags with veterans’ names will be created by the Vet Center and attached to the marble base.

“When our veterans set out to do something, they get it done,” said Mesquite Mayor Al Litman. “The city humbly accepts this eagle with pride.”

“This is a great honor for the city,” Montoya said. “This monument to all who have served and are serving our country will stay for years to come.”

For more information about purchasing the commemorative bricks or the dog tags, contact the Mesquite Veterans Center, 840 Hafen Lane, 702-346-2735.