of property...Before she passed away, I said to her if you give me your share, I will build a veteran's memorial to honor all the people who left Neah Bay to go to all the wars." His mother agreed to the idea. Fort Núñez Gaona–Diah Veterans Park marks the site of a Spanish fort, called Fort Núñez Gaona (named for Admiral Manuel Núñez Gaona), constructed in 1792, which was the first European settlement in the continental United States west of the Rocky Mountains and north of San Francisco. Spanish explorer Salvador Fidalgo had arrived on the May 29, 1792, and soon established the fort near the Makah village of Deah (present-day Neah Bay, Washington). The Spaniards were expelled from the site following four months of attacks, led by Makah Chief Tetaku. Claplanhoo had known about the history of his property long before the dedication, even taking the time to place a memorial sign at the site. However, he began planning for a full park and memorial following a conversation Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen in 2002. Claplanhoo became further interested in the park when Owens invited Edward and Thelma Claplanhoo to a 2004 opening reception for an exhibit on Spanish exploration from 1492 to 1819 at the Seattle Art Museum. Other prominent guests at the reception included King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain. Claplanhoo was impressed that sketches of Makah people and their canoes were displayed alongside depictions of Spanish vessels at the exhibit. Negotiations soon commenced to establish Fort Núñez Gaona–Diah Veterans Park. Claplanhoo worked closely with the Makah Tribal Council, office of the Lieutenant Governor of Washington, the government of Spain, and the Spanish Honorary Vice Consul Luis F. Esteban during the planning stages. The Embassy of Spain, Washington, D.C. also donated $40,000 dollars to build the memorial. Edward Claplanhoo was also inducted into the Washington State University Wall of Fame in 2008, an honor reserved for just one percent of the university's alumni. Claplanhoo died of a heart attack on March 14, 2014, at the age of 81. He had suffered from cardiac problems, with his heart working at only partial capacity during his later life. He was survived by his wife, Thelma Claplanhoo; daughter, Karen, and son, Vern; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Nearly 1,000 people attended his memorial in Neah Bay. He was buried at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington. The 2010