On December 2, 2015, a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California left 14 dead, 23 injured, and many others traumatized. The attack was a direct assault on County of San Bernardino employees in the Department of Public Health’s Environmental Health Services Division. Local, state, and federal public safety partners responded to the incident, killing the suspects within hours of the initial attack; two members of law enforcement were wounded in the shootout.

The County decided to honor the victims of this senseless act of violence with a memorial. The December 2nd Memorial Committee, composed of survivors, family of victims, County officials, and first responders, is leading this effort. The County retained Community Arts to assist the Memorial Committee to identify a site and an artist to design the memorial.

CAI worked with the committee to select a 40,000 sq. ft. site with sweeping views of the San Bernardino Mountains on the County Civic Campus. CAI then organized an international Open Call for artists, receiving 92 submissions from 11 countries. In 2020, the Memorial Committee selected artist and landscape architect, Walter Hood, to design the memorial. His winning design, “Curtain of Courage”, is comprised of bronze and steel mesh panels that enclose 14 alcoves, one for each of the victims, which create places of healing and reflection. Embedded in the framework are colored glass panels, personalized for each of the victims, along with a quotation selected by each of the families.

“Curtain of Courage” was dedicated on June 17, 2022.