Saluting Our Soldiers

With a US Marine Corps base in north San Diego county, and an United States Naval Base downtown, San Diego is definitely a ‘military town.’  With that in mind, this is going to be the perfect place to celebrate Veterans Day next week on November 11th.  Even if you won’t be able to honor veterans next Wednesday, there are plenty of ways to pay tribute to them any day of the year.  Here, we've highlighted a few places to visit on Veterans Day and beyond.

 Originally a holiday meant to commemorate the end of World War I, when on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month all major hostilities ended in 1918, Veterans’s Day was actually called Armistice Day for many decades.  In 1945, World War II veteran Raymond Weeks had the idea to expand Armistice Day to honor all veterans and not just those from World War I.  Two years later, Armistice Day in the United States encompassed all veterans, thanks to Weeks, who is known as the "Father of Veterans Day."  In 1954 Congress officially changed the day’s name to Veterans Day.  

The San Diego Veterans Day Parade is a San Diego tradition planned and organized by 'Veterans Week San Diego,' an all-volunteer group who want to honor those who have served our nation.  Visit the website HERE for specifics on where to catch the parade route.  The theme of the parade will be honoring 'America's Greatest Generation' and celebrating the 70th anniversary of the ending of World War II.  The mile-long parade will begin at 11:00 am (and is expected to end around 1:30 pm) at North Harbor Drive and West Broadway and will run past the USS Midway.

 As soon as the parade winds down, you’ll want to head over to the USS Midway for a full day’s celebration.  Visitors will have the chance to serve the community with the San Diego Blood Bank Blood Drive, taking place on Veterans Day at the Midway starting at 10:00 am.  If you make your appointment in advance HERE and donate blood, admission to the Midway is free that day.  The 70th anniversary of the end of WWII is the main influence the festival, with live music and entertainment and vintage war planes flying overhead.  There will be food, prizes and give-aways, and a special ‘Kidz Zone.’  Along with active military, admission is free to all veterans with a veterans ID. 

 If you can’t make it to the historic aircraft carrier on the 11th, you will definitely want to make a trip out to the Navy Pier another time.  Although it was constructed during World War II, the USS Midway did not go into operation until one week after the war ended.  At the time of its completion until 1955, it was the largest ship in the world.  It operated for almost 50 years (1945-1992) and had over 225,000 (wow!) sailors serve aboard the ship.  There are over 60 exhibits to visit, including original sleeping quarters, the ship’s jail, and flight control deck.  Check out the Air Wing, where you can climb into a cockpit and see what it felt like to sit in the pilot’s seat.  For the more adventurous, there are three flight simulators you can take for a spin and really feel like you’re racing through the air.  For some authentic military grub, visit the Fantail Cafe, which features items from its original 1945 menu.  There is also a 90-seat theater which plays a 15 minute multimedia film about the history of this great ship.

Another option to pay homage to veterans is a stop to the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park.  All branches of the military are covered here and is a home to all veteran groups.  There are military artifacts from World War I all the way to Desert Storm, like the first American flag that fell in the Philippines in World War II.   Military photographs and artwork that date back to the Civil War to present day are part of the permanent collection.  Take a living history tour with a veteran docent and hear first hand, what occurred in some of these historic battles.  The museum, housed in a former chapel of the Naval Hospital, is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The Veterans Day celebration in downtown San Diego is a touching way to recognize those who have sacrificed for our country's freedom.  Next week, book a stay with us and take your time attending the Veterans Day Parade, visiting the USS Midway and the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center.  Mission Bay Vacation Rentals would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank You" to those who have served in the armed forces.