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Reverend Bhagavan Friend originated the
concept for this new Veteran’s Memorial in 2003. (For Reverend
Friend's initial rendering click here.) For many years he was the
prime mover in carrying the idea of building this Memorial forward.
Reverend Friend was the primary force in getting the City of Redondo
Beach to put up $50,000 of “seed money” to finance the building of this
Memorial.
Because of all the red tape involved in
getting a Memorial built in Veterans Park, in 2005 Reverend Friend built
a Memorial in his own front yard.
(Click Here for The
Empty Chair Memorial.)
Still determined to
build a fitting Memorial in Veterans Park, in 2008 Reverend Friend was leading the
meetings of the Committee (now called “The Task Force”) in preparation for
raising money to finance the Memorial. He prepared a beautiful Statement of
Unity that would unite Veterans and Civilians in working together to fund
and build the Memorial (Click
Here for Statement.) Reverend Friend was undergoing treatment for
Prostate Cancer at that time and had to leave the meeting
after presenting his proposed Statement as he was feeling quite ill.
In a sneaky and underhanded move, the
remaining members of the Committee (now “Task Force”) VOTED REVEREND FRIEND
OFF THE COMMITTEE BEHIND HIS BACK for “trying to make it a “Citizen’s
Committee.” He was not told about this move and was subsequently
repetitively lied to and told that he was “still on the Committee” and would
continue to be a member in good standing.
In a prejudicial and discriminatory (and
possibly illegal) effort to keep Reverend Friend from returning to the “Task
Force,” the members further voted that NO CIVILIAN CAN SERVE ON THE TASK
FORCE! The Board members made this rule AFTER the Task Force had accepted
$50,000 in public money. This fact was announced for the first time by the
President of the Task Force in a meeting between Mayor Mike Gin, Reverend
Friend and two of the Task Force members. The meeting was recorded and the
declaration is “caught on tape.”
Since the time the Task Force deceptively
voted Reverend Friend off of its Board, the primary members of the Task
Force have instituted a total BLACKOUT regarding Reverend Friend and
STONEWALLED all references to him and his founding of the effort to build
the Memorial and his tremendous contribution and efforts to make it a
Reality. Even the City has staunchly refused to publicly recognize and
credit Reverend Friend with his origination and effort to build the
Memorial.
The Task Force has gone so far as to STRIKE
Reverend Friend’s name from all aspects of the Memorial including refusing
to even include his name on the Plaque that is on the Memorial and placing
the brick that Reverend Friend bought in a remote and obscure location while
placing their own in the most prominent place on the Memorial.
We, The Friends of Reverend Friend, believe
that STEALING CREDIT IS WRONG. Indeed, some of those who are on the Task
Force did not even join the Board until AFTER the Board had secretly voted
Reverend Friend off of it. Yet their names are on the commemorative plaque
while Reverend Friend’s name is not and they have been and are constantly
given abundant public credit by the City and the press, while Reverend
Friend is not even given an “honorable mention.”
On July 29, 2012, after a 12 year battle, Reverend Friend passed
away from prostate cancer, having never been given credit for his work in
originating the Memorial that now sits in Veterans Park.
IN REVEREND FRIEND'S MEMORY
WE ASK YOU TO DEMAND
TRUTH AND JUSTICE FOR REVEREND FRIEND
OUR DEMANDS
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