The San Diego Veterans Day Parade, which began nearly four decades ago, is back after a three-year hiatus and will celebrate a number of military milestone anniversaries along with paying tribute to community members who served in the armed forces.
The parade, which had been canceled since 2019 because of the pandemic, is slated to take off at 11 a.m. Nov. 12 near the County Administration Center on Harbor Drive and head south along San Diego Bay toward the USS Midway Museum near Seaport Village. The spectacle will feature dozens of bands, floats, ceremonial vehicles and marching units from veterans organizations, military commands, local businesses and community service and civic groups with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria as lead grand marshal.
The event will call attention to six significant military milestone anniversaries, including the 50th anniversaries of the end of the Vietnam War and the return of the Vietnam War POWs, and the 50th anniversary of women in naval aviation along with the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, 80th anniversary of naval helicopter aviation and 100th anniversary of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
There will be grand marshals representing each of the milestones:
50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War: Gary and Larry Soper, Purple Heart recipients for their courageous actions and wounds suffered in combat during the Vietnam War. The twin brothers are retired Marine Corps staff sergeants.
50th anniversary of the return of the Vietnam War POWs: Jack Ensch, an F-4 Phantom naval aviator who was shot down on his 285th combat mission of Vietnam on Aug. 25, 1972. He was a prisoner of war until his release from Hanoi on March 29, 1973. Ensch is a retired Navy captain.
50th anniversary of women in naval aviation: Joellen Oslund, one of the first six women to become naval aviators. Oslund was the Navy’s first female helicopter pilot and was inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2017. She is a retired Navy captain.
70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War: George Sousa, a former Army corporal who fought in the battles at Bloody Ridge and Heartbreak Ridge in 1951. He was a Purple Heart recipient for his courageous actions and wounds suffered during combat.
80th anniversary of naval helicopter aviation: Gary Ely, a former Navy petty officer who conducted an 18-month combat tour during the Vietnam War as a helicopter door gunner with the Helicopter Attack Squadron 3.
100th anniversary of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego: Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego commanding general, Brig. Gen. James Ryans. He has been serving in the Marines for 35 years and was the recipient of the Bronze Star.
The parade will be streamed live at sdvetparade.org.
