Families, generous supporters, and many young heroes converged on Embarcadero Marina Park North this morning for the 2017 Celebration of Champions!
During my walk along the Embarcadero this morning, I encountered a legion of amazing young heroes! Courageous children who are fighting cancer–and those who have defeated cancer–were gathering with their families for the 2017 Celebration of Champions!
I learned the emotionally moving event is in its 22nd year. It features young cancer battlers passing a simulated torch, from one hand to the next, as participants run a very short distance. Money raised supports Rady Children’s Hospital’s social, psychological and emotional support programs.
Parents of brave children who lost their battle with cancer also attend the event, in a tribute to loved ones whose smiles and hopeful hearts were in this world too briefly.
Folks head to the annual Celebration of Champions event, which honors young people who are fighting and have fought childhood cancer.A youthful honor guard arrives before the ceremonies begin.I learned that later in the day, many young cancer-fighting champions would carry a simulated torch around the grassy park at the edge of beautiful San Diego Bay.Some very young children were excited to be greeted by princesses!Young champions would hand off a simulated torch once they finished running a short length of the park’s looping walkway.Go Champions!
A statue of Tony Gwynn was dedicated last Tuesday at Lake Poway, not far from the place where he lived.
This morning I had to visit the new Tony Gwynn statue at Lake Poway. It was unveiled and dedicated last Tuesday.
I had to fill my eyes once again with that smile, imagine his laugh, remember his swing of the bat.
I never met Tony, but he touched my life, and the lives of countless others.
He worked hard. He gave much. He loved everybody.
He made the world much better.
Someone in a Gwynn San Diego Padres jersey sits by the softball field at Lake Poway, not far from the statue.The beautiful bronze sculpture celebrates one of the greatest hitters off all time in Major League Baseball. Gwynn doffs his cap while carrying his daughter Anisha.Plaque near the statue. Tony Gwynn was known as Mr. Padre. His humanitarian spirit was felt around Poway, the place he called home. His smile and laugh touched many around the world.Statue of Tony Gwynn in a beautiful park, where his children played.Flowers and a heart with the word LOVE at Tony’s feet.Tony Gwynn’s autograph greets those who visit the sculpture.This is how we should live.
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Flowers for the fallen at San Diego’s Regional Law Enforcement Memorial.
Yesterday the 33rd Annual San Diego County Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial ceremony was held at the Regional Law Enforcement Memorial, which stands eternally in San Diego’s beautiful Waterfront Park, in front of the County Administration Building.
During the solemn ceremony, fallen San Diego County peace officers were remembered, and honored.
The day after the ceremony flowers remain scattered by the names of heroes who sacrificed everything for you and me.
Kids get a chance to practice archery at an outdoor range where Olympians train! A special activity during the Celebration of Champions event at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center!
For 23 years the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista has been utilized by hundreds of Team USA athletes. It has now transfered ownership from the United States Olympic Committee to the City of Chula Vista. Although the large 155-acre facility is now called the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, it remains one of the most important U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training sites. And now non-Olympic athletes, including people who live in the community, will have a chance to develop their sporting skills here, too!
Today, a fun Celebration of Champions event was held to showcase this state-of-the-art facility to the public, and to honor local achievers. I’d never visited the place, so of course I had to go check it out!
And I took some photos! As usual, read the captions!
The colorful driveway into the 155-acre Elite Athlete Training Center complex includes graphics depicting many different Olympic sports.The state-of-the-art facilities at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center are located in the Eastlake community.Folks enter the Copley Visitor Center courtyard to enjoy a special celebration. The 23 year old Olympic Training Center today officially becomes the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center!While the adults checked out event tents, kids were playing with soccer balls on the nearby grass. Perhaps some of these youth will one day be Olympic medal winners!People sign up for a special tour of the elite athlete training complex, which includes grass fields, an indoor and outdoor archery range, a BMX track, and more. Future plans include a gymnasium and pool.One of two cool bronze sculptures near the main door to the Visitor Center. This male Olympic athlete appears to be a wrestler.The other bronze sculpture appears to be a female Olympic swimmer or diver.A large Olympic flame is blazing in the circular courtyard in front of the Visitor Center. Many outdoor booths were set up by various community organizations for the special event.Perhaps a future athlete will wear this baby clothing. Team USA had lots of cool stuff for sale.Several plaques are arranged around the courtyard. This one lists all the host cities of the Olympic Games–both Summer and Winter.Sign describes in detail how host cities are chosen for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Click image to enlarge.)The history of the Paralympic movement is described on this sign. Sport for athletes with an impairment has existed for more than 100 years.People slowly converge on an outdoor stage where a ceremony will celebrate the transfer of ownership of this training complex from the United States Olympic Committee to the City of Chula Vista.I spotted this plaque while heading over to join the audience.Ernest W. Hahn, 1919-1992. Visionary developer and philanthropist whose tireless efforts to fund and build the ARCO Training Center will inspire athletes from across America to pursue their Olympic dreams.While I had a chance, I should have headed over to take pics of the kids trying out the super awesome Olympic-level BMX track. You can see them with their bikes in the distance.Everyone prepares for the big ceremony, which will also honor local champions! Those are the champions assembled to the right!Chula Vista mayor Mary Salas kicks off speeches by gathered dignitaries.Nearby on the grass, these kids were more interested in sports. Talk is cheap–action is what matters!Representative from the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs speaks a few words. This training center in San Diego is used by a very large number of Team USA Olympians.To symbolize the transfer of the complex to the city of Chula Vista, a Paralympic track and field athlete who has won numerous medals carries a torch onto the stage!These walkers in the audience were recognized as champions during the ceremony!Many champions from San Diego’s South Bay head up onto the stage to be honored and given a medal by the mayor. Some excel in sports; others are teachers, coaches, community leaders, law enforcement officers, artists…About halfway through the ceremony, I sneaked off to check out the Visitor Center while few people were inside.Huge graphics greet visitors inside the front door. The Chula Vista Olympic Training Center is dedicated to the development of America’s future elite athletes.Today’s training center has sport venues and facilities for archery, beach volleyball, BMX, canoe and kayak, cycling, field hockey, rowing, rugby, soccer, tennis, plus track and field!Several displays inside the Visitor Center include a video of great Olympic athletic performances.A cool exhibit devoted to David Wagner, who plays Wheelchair Tennis. He is a champion at his sport!After the ceremony I walked around. I regret now that I didn’t sign up to take a tour. Here’s the BMX track. Looks like a bumpy ride!Here’s one of the grass fields. It appears to be used for rugby, field hockey or soccer.I was drawn toward the archery range, which was so cool I’m going to blog about it next! Here’s some outdoor action during the event.Walking toward the archery complex, I saw this inspirational quote concerning the Olympic Path by Conrad Hilton. Life’s journey is worthwhile. Choose a meaningful path.Kids try their hand at archery at the Celebration of Champions event at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista!
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“Old La Jolla” hand drawn fire engine dating from 1886, on display at The San Diego Firehouse Museum.
A simple but elegant old firehouse stands in downtown San Diego at the corner of Columbia Street and Cedar Street. Those who step inside are in for a very big surprise.
The San Diego Firehouse Museum today occupies what was once an active fire station–San Diego Fire Station No. 6. Located in Little Italy, this unique museum isn’t large, but it’s crammed with so much cool stuff and so much fascinating history, you could easily spend an hour enjoying the many exhibits. There are shiny red vintage fire engines, a steamer equipped with a huge boiler, antique hand pumpers, firefighting apparatus of every sort, helmets, badges, a big display of model vehicles, historical photographs . . . and just lots and lots of firefighting artifacts, dating as far back as the mid 1800s. Much of what you’ll see represents the history of firefighting in San Diego; other objects in the museum come from fire departments around the United States.
Here are some photos which I took during a recent visit. The volunteer on duty was very friendly and provided some interesting historical information. I learned that private events can be held in the old firehouse, and that kids love having birthday parties among all the fire engines. Museum admission is only 3 dollars for adults and 2 dollars for children and seniors. Quite a bargain!
The San Diego Firehouse Museum is manned by friendly firefighter volunteers. It’s located in old Fire Station No. 6 at 1572 Columbia Street in Little Italy.A look inside the Firehouse Museum, which is absolutely jam-packed with cool historical exhibits. Kids love this place.Two of the many vintage fire engines in the old firehouse. The museum’s walls are lined with interesting objects that tell the story of firefighting since the mid-1800s.The San Diego Firehouse Museum was founded in 1962 and is operated by the nonprofit Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company.A closer look at a 1914 Seagrave Pumper. During my visit, I learned that fire engines are also called pumpers.Even more old fire engines can be seen in a second room inside old Fire Station No. 6.Water pressure controls on the side of one pumper.This white fire engine was stationed at the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park. It can be seen in old photographs and postcards.Another look at the historic 1915 Panama-California Exposition fire engine. This section of the Firehouse Museum is a bit dark and close, which makes it hard to take a good wide photo.This glass display case in the museum contains all sorts of old fire fighter helmets and protective headgear.One corner of the Firehouse Museum showcases many old fire insurance marks which were affixed to buildings. One of these marks dates back to 1714.Smokey Bear welcomes visitors to The San Diego Firehouse Museum.One wall features a collection of old fire extinguishers.The Ely Adapter was invented by San Diego Fire Department’s Assistant Chief Robert Ely.Felt and paper stovepipe hats once worn by firefighters during parades.Model of 1899 Metropolitan Steamer with 1911 Christie tractor.Another display case at The San Diego Firehouse Museum contains all sorts of interesting old artifacts.A third room in the Firehouse Museum contains this 1903 coal burning steamer. Fire heats the boiler water, making steam, which activates a piston that pumps water.Stairs once used by scrambling firefighters when old Fire Station No. 6 was operational.An old photo of San Diego Fire Station No. 4 and its personnel.Photos of the San Diego Fire Department testing their new Ahrens Steamer at the courthouse on Broadway and Front Street in 1906.A collection of colorful antique hand pumpers at The San Diego Firehouse Museum.The San Diego Firehouse Museum is fantastic place to learn a bit about San Diego and the history of firefighting.
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San Diego Police Headquarters’ Wall of Honor. The wall is inscribed with the names of police officers killed in the line of duty since 1913.
Almost everyone in San Diego, and many across the country, know the heartbreaking news. Two San Diego gang-unit officers were shot in the Southcrest neighborhood late last night. One, Jonathan DeGuzman, has passed away. The second, Wade Irwin, remains in serious condition.
As an ordinary citizen, would you like to help the San Diego Police Department? It’s an extremely difficult job they do, and a noble one. Their task is to protect our communities. They risk their own lives every single day to save others, to protect and assist law-abiding citizens, and to keep the peace. Unfortunately, in some important areas our local police department is underfunded.
Please visit the San Diego Police Foundation website to learn how you can directly help, and consider giving a donation. Thank you.
Before the official start of the 2016 MLB All-Star Game Red Carpet Parade, team mascots begin down a winding route through downtown San Diego.
Here are some fun photos! I took them before and during the 2016 MLB All-Star Game’s Red Carpet Parade!
The unique pre-game parade took place at noon today. I’m watching the All-Star Game right now, so I’m not going to write much. Read the captions for explanations!
Fredbird of the St. Louis Cardinals heads across Harbor Drive from the Manchester Grand Hyatt.Here comes Dinger of the Colorado Rockies. I first met him about 20 years ago, when we exchanged high fives as he entered a Denver hospital.I see Pittsburgh’s Pirate Parrot, Sluggerrr of the Kansas City Royals, and the “south side” of Southpaw, mascot of the Chicago White Sox!The Padres Pad Squad was on hand and smiling!Sluggerrr poses for the camera while lots of happy people gather around!The beginning part of the parade route was less crowded, so I followed the mascots and enjoyed the fun. Here comes Mr. Met of the New York Mets!A riot of happy baseball mascots in San Diego for the 2016 MLB All-Star Game! Now I spot Florida’s Billy the Marlin!A New York Mets fan in San Diego gets a photo that he’ll cherish forever.Suddenly the parade arrives! Here are the Grand Marshals, Padres legends Dave Winfield and Trevor Hoffman!The first couple vehicles in the parade have passed. I’ve taken position next to the red carpet in San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter.It’s Mark Trumbo of the Baltimore Orioles.Here comes Eduardo Nunez of the Minnesota Twins.Being driven down the All-Star Game Red Carpet is Kelvin Herrera of the Kansas City Royals.And here’s Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers.Orbit, the crazy mascot of the Houston Astros, greets Jose Quintana of the Chicago White Sox.Carlos Beltran of the New York Yankees rides down the Red Carpet a few hours prior to the 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in San Diego.David Ortiz, of the Boston Red Sox, waves to the crowd as he travels down the Red Carpet toward Petco Park. This might be Big Papi’s final All-Star Game.Baseball fans line Fifth Avenue in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. They’re all excited to see today’s greatest Major League players parade on by!Turning the corner at the intersection of Fifth and Island is Marco Estrada of the Toronto Blue Jays.Here’s Aaron Sanchez of the Toronto Blue Jays.Now National League players have begun to head down the Red Carpet. I see Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giants.Lots of fans have converged along the parade route to enjoy one of the most popular MLB All-Star Game events in San Diego.It’s Jay Bruce of the Cincinnati Reds.And here is our local baseball hero, Wil Myers of the San Diego Padres!Here comes Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals.Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants passes in front of the William Heath Davis House Museum in San Diego.Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs appears to be enjoying his experience at the All-Star Game Red Carpet Parade!I’ve spotted Thor, or Noah Syndergaard of the New York Mets.And finally, here comes what all the players want. The Commissioner’s Trophy, which will be presented to the team that wins the 2016 World Series!The Red Carpet Parade for MLB’s 2016 All-Star Game in San Diego is over. Now all that’s left to be done is play the big game.Thousands turned out in downtown San Diego today to pay tribute to their favorite Major League Baseball teams and players.
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Flags and flowers are placed where the fallen now rest.
Today there was a moving Memorial Day ceremony at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. I attended.
Here are some photos. Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, located on Point Loma high above the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay, is the final resting place of thousands of American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, and their families, who served their country with courage and honor. Many who are buried in this hallowed place fought in different conflicts spanning our nation’s history, right up to the present-day War on Terrorism. Because of its amazing natural setting, many say Fort Rosecrans is more beautiful than even Arlington or Normandy. As you can see, it’s a special place.
A Memorial Day rose adorns a solemn grave marker at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.American flags at the grave markers around the USS Bennington Monument. The granite obelisk remembers those sailors who lost their lives when the warship’s boiler exploded in San Diego Bay in 1905.Love and respect are shown for those in the military who pledged to protect their countrymen, and defend freedom. They are honored on Memorial Day.Walking among silent rows of white. Many gave the ultimate sacrifice for their nation.Many old granite markers at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery recall decades and centuries of history.A marker reads: “Lydia Hunter died from complications resulting from the birth of her only child, a son named Diego Hunter, the first American born in San Diego. Diego was born 20 April 1847, Lydia died 6 days later. May we honor her and each of those women who served with the Mormon Battalion.” Members of the Mormon Battalion made the longest military march in U.S. history. They marched over 2000 miles from Iowa to San Diego in 1847.People assemble in front of the rostrum where the Memorial Day service will be conducted at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.People from all walks of life have gathered together to honor those who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.While people take their seats before the opening and introduction, Marine Band San Diego provides music.The color guard comes forward. Those attending the ceremony sing the Star Spangled Banner and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.Some patriots in the crowd wave small flags.Veterans salute. Respect is shown for the flag.The color guard exited along the side where I sat, allowing me to take a couple of good photographs.Members of a high school ROTC program carry the United States and California flags.Folded flags are presented to families of fallen heroes. Everyone watching was very attentive and quiet.An address about different forms of love during Memorial Day. The moving speech was given by Major General O’Donohue of the 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton.Ceremonial wreaths approach the rostrum. Many organizations presented wreaths, including the Knights of Columbus shown here.Various ceremonial wreaths are displayed in front of the assembled people. Tokens of love, gratitude and respect.Finally, taps is played while the cemetery flag is lowered to half staff. Salutes included three rifle volleys, a musket volley, and a cannon.A bagpiper, after playing Lament for a Soldier, exits across the green grass, where the fallen lie eternally.The ceremony is over, and those visiting the cemetery fan out to pay their respects. The Marine Band remained seated for a bit of concluding music.A Navy officer walks down a cemetery driveway, which overlooks the channel entrance to San Diego Bay.Walls around the cemetery contain columbarium niches for cremated remains. Naval Air Station North Island and downtown San Diego are visible in the background.Walking along the columbarium. Its plaques identify loved ones.These two guys had bouquets in their backpacks. They are gazing along the Point Loma peninsula in the direction of Cabrillo National Monument.A deeply moving sight. Solemn rows of white on rolling green hills. Volunteers have provided every grave with an American flag and rose.Member of the next generation among those who came before.The living walk thoughtfully through Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.More grave markers and a small plaque nearby.The markers in this memorial area honor veterans whose remains have not been recovered or identified, were buried at sea, donated to science, or cremated and the ashes scattered.After the Memorial Day ceremony, some people linger to view the floral tributes and the flag-draped Casket of the Unknown Soldier. The plaque behind the rostrum contains President Lincoln’s famed Gettysburg Address.And now almost everyone has departed.Plaque near Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery entrance has lines from The Bivouac of the Dead, a poem by Theodore O’Hara.The main entrance plaque at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. The flag flies at half staff.Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is also a California Registered Historical Landmark.Several monuments near the cemetery entrance memorialize tragic events in U.S. military history, including ships lost in action.Flags in the breeze. A cloudy day. People atop the hill gaze down at the eternal ocean.Looking beyond grave markers toward a hazy blue horizon.A beautiful old tree rises from the Earth. Life persists.A slow, thoughtful walk.Youth replaces a red rose that was blown by the wind to the ground. He doesn’t realize that someone is watching.
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Do you like to read short pieces of thought-provoking fiction? You might enjoy checking out Short Stories by Richard.
One of the San Diego Fire Department’s two firefighting helicopters fills its water tank using a hose lowered into the San Diego River in Mission Valley.
I was lucky late this afternoon to capture some cool action pics! After work, I was eating at Jack in the Box in Hazard Center when I saw a helicopter swooping rapidly down toward the nearby San Diego River. A hose was dangling underneath, so I knew it was a firefighting helicopter arriving to suck up some river water!
I hurried down to the center of the action to watch and snap a few photographs. It’s the first time I’ve witnessed this activity up close.
Someone on the river path said there was a fire to the northwest in Linda Vista, but I couldn’t see any smoke. I watched five different instances of helicopters filling their tanks, then the action ceased. The fire must’ve been quickly contained.
A wildfire must be nearby because here comes a firefighting helicopter swooping rapidly down over Mission Center Road and the raised trolley tracks toward a wide spot in the San Diego River!The chopper slows and carefully makes its descent in order to suck water into its belly tank to eventually drop on a wildfire.The air from the rotor blades causes spray to fly up from the surface of the San Diego River. Several joggers and walkers on the nearby paths stopped to watch.The long hose quickly sucks a good quantity of water from the river. The pilot is highly skilled, hovering the helicopter close above the water, steady as a rock.A couple minutes later one of the San Diego County Sheriff’s three firefighting helicopters arrives! You can see the external belly tank underneath the chopper’s body!This firefighting helicopter got so close to the water I had to hold my breath. These brave hero pilots are amazingly precise.ASTREA is the Sheriff’s Department aviation unit. Up their aircraft goes, quickly swinging overhead and heading to the northwest. Someone thought there was a fire in Linda Vista, but I didn’t see smoke from the bottom of Mission Valley in any direction.A San Diego Fire Department chopper has sucked up more water from the river and flies in a big hurry again toward the northwest! The fire must have been small, because the action above the river didn’t seem to last for more than 15 minutes.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! Sometimes I randomly stumble upon fascinating, newsworthy events! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
A U.S. military veteran creates art while watching folklorico dancing at a popular festival in San Diego’s South Bay.
Today I met Anthony A. LoBue for the second time. With a great big smile, he was manning his Arts For Veterans tent at the International Mariachi Festival and Competition in National City. (I chatted briefly with him once before at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, during a special concert raising funds for Operation Rebound.)
“Tony the Vet” helps other veterans heal through creative art. He’s the founder of Support Our Veterans Association and the Arts for Veterans Project. The latter organization’s purpose is to: Engage, Educate, Employ and Empower Veterans in the Creative Arts. He provides art classes for military veterans at the Veterans Museum in Balboa Park, Veterans Village, and other places where healing, hope, wholeness and art education are welcome.
He believes the healing power of art dramatically changes lives. It’s an enormous benefit for those returning from war with psychological trauma. Art provides connection, joy, self-empowerment. Art literally saves lives.
Tony has a huge positive vision. He wants to expand his Arts for Veterans program so that it might benefit as many people as possible.
Would you please visit his website and see it you can help in some way?
Art heals. Art provides joy, connection, hope. Art helps to give life meaning and purpose.
Brian Meyer was painting at the Arts For Veterans tent. I spoke to him. He’s a veteran of Desert Storm. He’s a super guy and deeply thoughtful. And his watercolors are amazing. That’s a glimpse of a work-in-progress above. He frequently paints the live musicians at Panama 66 next to the San Diego Museum of Art. Please check out his website!
Hand-drawn art cards with hearts and flags thank service members for their sacrifice.People at the International Mariachi Festival and Competition in National City were making special greeting cards for patients at the VA Hospital.Gifted watercolor painter Brian Meyer, and Anthony A. LoBue of Arts For Veterans.
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