In 2015, the Rancho Purisima Chapter realized that they needed to do something about the dilapidated state of the Lompoc Valley Vietnam Veterans Memorial. In the 21 years since its construction, it had fallen into disrepair. Hard water spots stained some tiles and vandals had broken others.

On October 11, 2015, the National DAR Day of Service, eight members of the chapter scrubbed the memorial and cataloged the tiles to be replaced. Lompoc Renaissance Man and Rancho Purisima HODAR Ron Fairbanks crafted a scope of work for Regent Sue Huseman to present to the city administrators and volunteered his labor to install the new tiles after El Nino.

Tragedy struck on April 30, 2016 when Ronald Fairbanks died suddenly. He was the soulmate to our chapter member and a friend to this project. Memorial Day arrived and the Lompoc Record published an article about the sad state of the memorial. Historic Preservation Committee Chair Cynthia Allen took the opportunity to make a public plea for a tile setter who would volunteer his time. Her plea was answered by James Baldwin from Monterey. He had spent part of his childhood in Lompoc and his fiancee’s family still lived in the area.

James and, his friend, Donald Nigh began work on July 18, 2016 and continued daily until completion on July 27. Cynthia was at the job site for a few hours every morning and afternoon running errands for the workers and coordinating with interested parties.

A re-dedication is planned for November 11, 2016.