Marine Lance Cpl. Anthony Melia

The memory of a Thousand Oaks High School graduate who was killed in Iraq will be honored during Saturday's dedication of a memorial wall at the school's football stadium, Principal Tim Carpenter said.

The half-moon-shaped granite wall, 5 feet high and 14 feet long, will eventually bear the names of Marine Lance Cpl. Anthony Melia and other deceased Thousand Oaks High graduates and staff members.

Anthony Melia was 20 when he was killed Jan. 27 while on foot patrol in Iraq's Anbar province.

A member of the Class of 2005, he had been a defensive back and punt and kick returner on the football team.

Mike Melia, Anthony's father, said short metal flagpoles and flags, each with a metal letter on it, will emerge from the top of the wall.

"The letters will spell, Hero Zone,'" he said. "The wall has turned out to be a really big, wonderful deal. It's awesome. The people who put it together followed the directions of what we wanted to a T."

Mike Melia said the wall happened because of Chris English, a former Thousand Oaks High football coach.

"He is a gentleman with an incredible heart," Melia said. "He coordinated the group that built the wall. He has a foundation, and his people are the ones who took care of everything."

English said a number of people besides his family foundation donated time, talent and money to making the wall a reality.

"I felt the more hands that touched the project the more it would mean to the community," said English, an Air Force veteran.

Carpenter said Saturday was chosen for the dedication because it is "Green and White Day," and all three football teams — freshmen, junior varsity and varsity — will be on the field.

"It will be kind of a sad and joyous occasion," Carpenter said. "The impetus for it was Anthony Melia giving his life to defend our freedom. From his death comes an honor wall that will acknowledge the contributions many made — Thousand Oaks High School graduates and staff. It will recognize the lives they led and their dedication to our school and our community."

The ceremony begins at 3 p.m. It is open to the public.

The school is at 2323 N. Moorpark Road. Parking and stadium entrance is on Avenida de las Flores, just west of the Moorpark Road intersection.