San Diego Veterans Day Guide

An American soldier wears a poppy emblem stuck to his uniform during a ceremony marking Veterans Day at the U.S. Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

This Wednesday, 90 years ago, President Woodrow Wilson declared Nov. 11 as Armistice Day to recognize the soldiers who died in World War I. In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower, declared the day Veterans Day.

Fifty-five years later, the celebration of American veterans who have served for the U.S. worldwide has not faltered. And in San Diego County, where one-third of the population is made up of veterans and their families (about 241,000 just veterans), the celebration is hefty, according to the San Diego County Veterans Office.

Here’s your guide to celebrating the men and women who have adorned the camouflaged gear on our behalf.

The 23^rd Annual San Diego County Veterans Day Parade: This year, the parade is titled, “Welcome Home Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans.”

The parade will begin at Cedar Street and Pacific Highway at 11 a.m. and will end at G Street. The Grand Marshal will be Marine Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch, the same sergeant who led a group of Marines to the public area of Baghdad on April 9, 2004. The Marines and Iraqis subsequently tore down the statue of Saddam Hussein, and Popaditch, aboard his tank, was caught celebrating the victory with a cigar. Popaditch is also the co-author of Once a Marine, a memoir about his time in Iraq and his transition back into civilian life.

Honorary marshals will include veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Freedom Festival: The Freedom Festival, hosted by Cal-Diego PVA, will be held from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tuna Harbor Pier.

The Festival will have numerous vendors and food stands, including a performance by The Stilettos Band and Dancers. A stream of fancy and classic Corvettes will also be available for viewing.

To top it off, The American Red Cross will have its popular Blood Mobile there to encourage attendees to “give life.”

The event is free.

USS Midway Museum: Get a glimpse of history at the USS Midway Museum Wednesday and see proceeds of your admission ticket go towards a good cause.

The Museum will have a ceremony at 3 p.m. to acknowledge San Diego’s bravest. In addition, attendees can watch the restoration of a World War II Corsair fighter plane and a preview of an anticipated History Channel movie titled, “WWII in HD.” San Diego Blood Bank will also be at the museum and will offer free admission in return for blood.

If that isn’t enough, the Parkview Little League champs, who won our hearts earlier this summer, will be present to commemorate the vets.

Visitors of the patriotic museum on Wednesday will see $1 of their admission ticket go to Veterans Village of San Diego. Tickets are $17 for adults, $13 for seniors (over the age of 62), $9 for youth (ages 6-17) and free for veterans.

Address is 910 North Harbor Drive.

Chula Vista festivities: The city of Chula Vista will host a celebration for its South Bay Vets from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The celebration will take place at the Chula Vista Memorial Bowl. Address is 373 Park Way, 91910.

The Chula Vista Nature Center will also offer free admission to veterans, current members of the Armed Forces and their families on Wednesday.

Truly considered the heart of the city to many Chula Vista residents, the nature center is the home to a variety of endangered animals including: sea turtles, raptors, shorebirds and other species. The center is located at 1000 Gunpowder Point Drive, 91910.

For more information about the events, visit the San Diego Veterans Day Parade Web site.

Hoa Quach is the political editor for the San Diego News Network. Follow her on Twitter.

Tags: Add new tag, Chula Vista Nature Center, dwight eisenhower, san diego marines, san diego navy, san diego soldiers, SDNN, USS Midway Museum, veterans day chula vista, veterans day parade san diego, veterans day san diego, woodrow wilson

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