I love this statue. It’s located on the Embarcadero a little south of the USS Midway, just off a bike and pedestrian path, in an area called the Greatest Generation Walk. Other statues, plaques and memorials can be found in the vicinity, but this bronze sculpture expresses such genuine feeling and humanity, it’s hard to take one’s eyes from it.
It’s called Homecoming. It depicts a sailor newly returned from deployment, reunited with his wife and small child. It’s a scene often televised by local news stations. San Diego is home to several large Navy bases, and is the homeport of many naval ships.
The artist who created this is named Stanley Bleifeld. According to the Port of San Diego website, this sculpture is identical to the artist’s original work, which is featured at the entrance to the Naval Heritage Center next to the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C.
View of touching public art from different direction.Love and thankfulness depicted on face of a Navy wife.Sailor’s expression of love.Child is happy that Dad is home from deployment.Woman photographs Homecoming sculpture.
This historical plaque, located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park’s grassy central Plaza de Las Armas, reads:
On this spot the United States Flag was first raised in Southern California by Lt. Stephen C. Rowan U.S.N. commanding Sailors and Marines July 29, 1846
Looking past the bronze plaque at a few Old Town buildings.
During my morning walks, I often see military personnel jogging through Balboa Park. Sometimes they can number in the hundreds. They wear distinctive yellow t-shirts marked “NAVY” and lustily chant military cadences as they proceed. I’m not sure whether they are sailors from one of the several nearby naval bases or marines from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. Usually one or two men will be holding a flag, and a few men in front will lead the way, suddenly changing direction at a moment’s notice.
My camera’s flash in this photo reflected brightly off safety tape on the joggers, making the energetic scene appear kinetic and dazzling.
Sailboats pass live bait fishing boat docked at Tuna Harbor pier.
Venture anywhere along San Diego Bay and you’re in for a show!
Look at these pics of huge blue fishing boats, colorful sailboats, and the big gray Navy ships glimpsed in the distance!
Of course, sailboats are easily recognized, and everyone loves watching them dance on the big bay. On any given day you’ll see many white sails. Often you’ll see a group of sailboats racing together, tacking, tilting, running on the sea breeze.
The big blue fishing boats with the square wells that we seem to be standing beside are commercial live bait boats docked at Tuna Harbor’s G Street Pier. Seine nets are utilized to gather schools of small fish, which are then dumped into the deep wells. The live bait is then used by fishermen who depart from several sportfishing locations around San Diego. Pelicans, egrets, black-crowned night herons and gulls often perch on the sides of idle live bait boats. Perhaps they think something tasty will magically appear!
The distant Navy ships are an oiler and two active aircraft carriers docked at Naval Air Station North Island, situated on the northern half of Coronado Island. The two homeported carriers that you can glimpse are the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Ronald Reagan.
Sailboats pass a commercial live bait fishing boat.Seine net with floats stretches along edge of Tuna Harbor pier.Sailboats and a Navy oiler docked at North Island in the background.Pelican and gulls on the edge of the Tuna Harbor pier.Small sailboat passes live bait boat on San Diego Bay.The rusted bridge of a live bait catching fishing boat.Dangling ropes and the seine net coiled on a huge cylinder-like winch drum.Live bait boat Cougar docked at the picturesque Tuna Harbor pier on San Diego Bay.Snowy egret perched on square well perhaps hopes to find a fish.One live bait boat is named Rival.Cougar tied to G Street Pier between watery hunts for small fish.San Diego Bay and many colorful boats!
Cool San Diego Sights! 