This year the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association (MSMA) plans to honor actor Jimmy Stewart during its annual Veterans Day celebration atop Soledad Mountain. Starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, members of the association will present a memorial plaque to the family of Brigadier General James Maitland Stewart for his service in the U.S. Air Force. Stewart flew 20 official missions in World War II, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Croix de Guerre for his actions during combat. Stewart also flew aboard a B-52 as a non-duty observer as part of a bombing mission during the Vietnam War. Though he died in 1997, the memorial association said it wanted to present the popular actor — who would have turned 100 this year — with a memorial plaque. “His family is coming out and they’ve never been to Mt. Soledad,” MSMA executive director Joanie Miyashiro-Brennan said. Stewart’s three surviving children will attend the ceremony. George Kennedy, a good friend of the actor, prepared a reading but can’t attend because of health issues, according to Brennan. “We just got a confirmation that actor Ed Faulkner will read [Kennedy’s statement],” Brennan said. Brennan said that Major General Robert Duignan, Commander 4th Air Force Reserve Command, March Air Reserve Base will present the keynote address. “He’ll tie in the meaning of Veterans Day and the active military and current events,” Brennan said. Attendees also will see familiar sights. “We’re going to have a flyover again this year. That’s always one of the highlights,” Brennan said. For veterans or their families who want to purchase a memorial plaque, which is cemented on a wall surrounding the cross on Mt. Soledad, Brennan said the association will have its plaque designer on hand to answer questions. “We’ll have a plaque table set up in the back. We encourage people to purchase a plaque — the wall’s filling up fast,” Brennan said. Although each person’s plaque is different, a normal memorial takes between six to eight weeks, Brennan said. “Right now if they want a plaque for Christmas, they’ve got to do it now,” she said. This year’s ceremony starts at 11 a.m. MSMA will provide shuttles to the mountaintop beginning at 9:30 a.m. from the Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church, 6551 Soledad Mountain Road; and from the French American School, 6550 Soledad Mountain Road. The last shuttle will leave when there are no more people. The Mt. Soledad memorial is located at 6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive South. For more information, visit www.soledadmemorial.com or call the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association, (858) 459-2314.