Sentinels of Freedom

 

 

Over the course of Mater Dei High School’s 70 year history, hundreds of Monarchs have served in the United States Armed Forces. For this reason, and many more, Mater Dei High School is committed to honoring all Monarchs who have served in the Military. In 2014, Mater Dei constructed a monument in the grotto called Sentinels Of Freedom.

The Sentinels of Freedom project is a small way for Mater Dei to recognize and remember the sacrifice that all Monarch service men and women have made for our country. This permanent memorial holds a prominent place in Mary’s Grotto where it is seen by thousands of people on a daily basis. The beautiful circular space features three granite panels surrounded by a water fountain and is accessible at anytime of day. The first panel features the U.S. flag and an excerpt from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. The second panel has the five seals of the military branches and cross with the names of our fallen Monarchs. The third panel lists the names of all Monarch service men and women. Four benches are available for quiet reflection and paths which allow access to the names on the granite panels. The space is large enough for an entire class to visit during the school day and private enough for individual reflection. The completion of this project relied fully on the generosity of the entire Mater Dei community. Any funds raised above and beyond the final cost of the project are strictly used for maintaining this special space and the Alumni Heritage Fund, providing need-based financial aid for second and third generation Monarchs. 

The Sentinels of Freedom logo was designed by Kristen Lee ‘08.

For more information about the monument, contact the Office of Advancement at (714) 850-9534 or [email protected].