Monument That Honors Those Who Have Died In Watts Unites Community

WATTS (CBSLA.com) — A monument dedicated to families and individuals who have died sits in Watts uniting a community.

As CBS2's Cristy Fajardo reports, behind each of the hundreds of names written in calligraphy on "The Wall", located on 109th Street near Central Avenue, is a story.

"We started this in 1983 I believe it was," said Hank Henderson, the wall's caretaker for the city of Los Angeles Housing Authority.

He's in charge of adding names to the wall, including that of his own son.

"I didn't want to see my son go before I did, you know, it's kind of heartbreaking," Henderson said.

Fajardo says "The Wall" began during a turbulent time in the Nickerson Gardens Public Housing Project and the first names on it at the recreation center were those who died in gang violence.

But now loved ones in the community can add any name.

"Powerful and it sends that message that it is community," another man said.

As Fajardo reports, "The Wall" is so powerful in fact that it has never seen a scratch of graffiti and no one dares to lean on it, either.

"This is our monument cause if you grew up over here and one of your loved ones passed, pretty much they'd be on this wall too," said Eddie Williams, a community activist, who visits "The Wall" to remember his brother.

"It kind of brings tears to my eyes," Williams said. "I'm a big ol' guy, but I mean, I tear up, too, because he was a good dude."