LA JOLLA — The Mount Soledad Memorial Association will hold its annual Mount Soledad Veterans Week Ceremony this Saturday, Nov. 6, from noon to 1:15 p.m. at 6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive South, to honor currently enlisted U.S. soldiers and veterans who have served the country. This year though, Bob Philips, trustee for the Mount Soledad Memorial Association, noted there would be a new addition to this year’s event. “Usually we have an aircraft fly-by at the end of the ceremony where four T-34 planes form the missing man formation. This year though, there will be at least 12 to 16 T-34’s because the T-34 [National Warbird Operator] Conference was here in San Diego this year,” said Phillips. “It should be really amazing to see the formation created with that many planes — it’s never been done before here.” Also new to the Memorial Association this year, are some rule changes as to who can be honored, explained Phillips. In the past, wall plaques could only be reserved for those who served during wartime and were honorably discharged, now any person who’s served their country, “even if it was during the Bosnia or Somalia conflicts” or other political campaigns, can have a spot on the wall, Phillips said. More than 2,900 black granite plaques, each honoring United States veterans, living and deceased, who have served the country, are now installed on The Mount Soledad Memorial wall. The walls hold a maximum of 3,200 plaques, which may soon be filled as history shows that each year the association has 100 to 200 added. “We’re still waiting for compensation from the Navy through the city for the eminent domain when they purchased the property,” said Phillips. Once the funds are received he said, the association would be capping the walls, finishing the walkways, putting up an electronic plaque-finder, and, of course, expanding the existing Memorial Wall. In addition, this year’s event will posthumously honor Medal of Honor recipient and Navy SEAL, Michael Monsoor, in a special plaque presentation. Monsoor was killed in 2006 during the Iraq War when an insurgent threw a grenade onto a rooftop where Monsoor and several other SEAL and Iraqi soldiers were positioned. The 25-year-old SEAL threw himself onto the grenade, hence saving the lives of the men in his platoon who were near him. In 2008, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter, announced that DDG-1001, the second ship in the Zumwalt class of destroyers, would be named “Michael Monsoor” in honor of this valiant soldier. Other activities at the event this year include the keynote address, which will be presented by Rear Admiral Edward G. Winters, Commander Naval Special Warfare Command, music by the Navy Band Southwest Brass Quintet and an appearance from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Color Guard and the Marine Corps Air Station Honor Guard. The memorial, which is owned by the Federal government and managed by Navy Region Southwest here in San Diego, is located at Soledad Natural Park, 6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive South in La Jolla. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes early to the event because this year’s event is expected to have at least 800 to 1,000 attendees. Free parking and shuttle services are available at the Mt. Soledad Presbyterian Church, located at 6551 Soledad Mountain Road. For more information, visit www.soledadmemorial.com or call (858) 459-2314.