Mount Soledad and the USS Midway will honor the veterans of the past and the armed forces of the present this Memorial Day weekend.
Wounded soldiers, the military, peacekeepers and Maj. Audie Leon Murphy, the most decorated U.S. soldier in history, will be honored at a Memorial Day ceremony held on Monday, May 29, at 2 p.m. at Mount Soledad.
The commander of the Navy Seals, Rear Adm. Joseph Maguire, will speak about “Service to America,” paying tribute to the military, peacekeeping forces, officials aiding in areas of disaster relief and those serving in the local community. Maguire recently returned from serving in Iraq.
A special plaque presentation will recognize Murphy, one of the most decorated U.S. soldiers in history, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the government’s highest honor. Following WWII, Murphy starred in the story of his life called “To Hell and Back.”
“He is a true hero and somebody that we’re very proud to have on the walls,” said Bill Kellogg, president of the Mount Soledad Memorial Association, which is organizing the event.
Between four and six soldiers wounded in the war in Iraq will also be honored in the ceremony.
The Navy Band Southwest will sing the Star Spangled Banner, and the San Diego Naval Color Guard will perform.
Memorial Day is a day for the nation to stop and reflect on the sacrifice of the veterans who have served the country, particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and to remember our freedoms, Kellogg said.
“You couldn’t have a better place to do it from,” he said.
For more information, call the Mount Soledad Memorial Association, (858) 459-2314, or visit www.soledadmemorial.com.
The USS Midway Museum invites veterans to board the ship to relay their stories of serving in the armed forces to be recorded in the museum’s history books. The public is invited to observe the interviews on the hangar deck.
Retired public affairs officer Joe Ciokon will interview each veteran for approximately 30 minutes, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, May 27 and 28, by appointment only.
For more information call Ciokon, (619) 398-8225. The Midway is located at 910 N. Harbor Drive.