The Mt. Soledad Memorial Association is seeking volunteers in its La Jolla office and docents at the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial atop Mt. Soledad. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available, including but not limited to memorial plaque designers, plaque salespersons, website support personnel, veteran event activities workers, social media coordinators and general administrative office workers. Volunteer docents at the site answer questions about the Memorial and conduct tours upon request. Each of the above opportunities calls for approximately three hours of service a week. Training programs are in place to orient new volunteers.
“The Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial stands as a beautiful symbol and reminder of those who have served our country since the military was established in 1775,” said Bruce Bailey, president and CEO of the memorial association. “It is only through the support of our docents and volunteers that we can continue our work in honoring and recognizing those men and women.”
Senior chief Wilfred (Bill) Sturgeon has been an association volunteer and memorial docent for the past four years. He served in the Navy and retired after 24 years of military service. He served onboard seven different destroyers in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
“I am one of seven docents,” Sturgeon said, “each of us helping visitors better understand the significance of this extraordinary veterans tribute, which recognizes the major contributions of those who have helped preserve the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. It’s an ideal opportunity for both veterans and nonveterans to show their patriotism while honoring those who have served our country.”
Sturgeon’s canine visitors are a highlight of each of his bi-weekly shifts.
“Dog owners throughout San Diego regularly take their dogs up to Soledad Natural Park on daily walks,” Sturgeon said. “As the dogs near the top of the site, they break into quickstep knowing that I am working my docent shift, with pockets brimming with tasty dog biscuits. It’s a highlight for me to see the dogs but to also converse and share the association’s story with those who live right here in our own backyard.”
In addition to answering questions and assisting the more than 60,000 visitors who pass through the memorial each year, Sturgeon completes weekly reports on the number of domestic and foreign visitors, visitor questions, plaque locator requests, group pictures and new plaque inquiries. This year, he initiated a program with volunteers to help maintain the appearance of the Memorial Walls and veteran plaques. He also oversees and supervises an induction program for new Navy chief petty officer selectees to help with general maintenance work at the memorial. He developed a detailed self-guided tour of the memorial and a U.S. Presidents and Medal of Honor Tour, which shows visitors where each of these distinguished veteran plaques are located on the Memorial Walls.
“We are grateful,” Bailey added, “to the existing and future volunteers and docents who are willing to give their time and energy to preserving the spirit and commitment of the association. We hope to get the word out about our need for more volunteers and docents who bring the same energy and enthusiasm for our mission, as Bill has for so many years. He is truly an asset to our organization and to our community.”
The Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial is the only veterans memorial in the United States that honors veterans, living and deceased, from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in the Middle East. It is administered through a volunteer board of trustees and volunteers working directly with executive director Joanie Miyashiro-Brennan and her assistant Denise Larkins. The association offices are located at 6437 Caminito Blythefield, Suite B, in La Jolla. For additional information, call (858) 459-2314 or visit soledadmemorial.com.