Newport solicits designs for 1st Battalion memorial

After dinners, car washes, a picnic and even adoption, Newport Beach wants to take its relationship with a Camp Pendleton Marine battalion to the next level.

The city is soliciting designs for a memorial to honor its relationship with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines — known as the 1/1 — and to pay tribute to the unit and its members who have been killed in combat.

Newport Beach adopted the battalion in 2003 and residents have since raised a total of $385,000 by holding an annual mess night banquet and other events. Minus expenses, about $255,000 is available to help the Marines and their families, said Dick Kurth, the city's deputy director of administrative services who is on the 1/1 committee.

Within a month, the unit is facing its third deployment to Iraq since the city adopted it.

"I think it's important for future generations to memorialize the valor and courage and sacrifice of these Marines," said City Councilman Keith Curry, who proposed the idea.

Designs for the memorial must be submitted by July 9. For a packet of information on project specifications call cultural arts coordinator Jana Barbier at (949) 717-3870 or e-mail her at jbarbier@city.newport-beach.ca.us.

— Alicia Robinson