Thanks for reply.
c:forEach can list all the menuItems. But when a menuItem is clicked, the method bean.showPerson() is called, but it does not know which person, John, Allen, or Smith, ... . If the menuItem can take a parameter, it will solve the problem. Thanks for further help.

Dave

<rich:dropDownMenu ...>
<c:forEach var="person" value="#{bean.personList}">

<rich:menuItem value="#{person.name}" action="#{bean.showPerson}" />

</c:forEach>

</rich:dropDownMenu>

<rich:dropDownMenu ...>
<c:forEach var="person" value="#{bean.personList}">

<rich:menuItem value="#{person.name}" action="#{bean.showPerson}" >

<h:param name="personName" value="#{person.name}" />

</rich:menuItem>

</c:forEach>

</rich:dropDownMenu>

I wish <rich:menuItem> can take h:param