The 67th Annual Massing of the Colors and Service of Remembrance was held today in San Diego’s Balboa Park.
The patriotic ceremony featured a procession of color guards through the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. In addition to military color guards, participants represented dozens of schools, organizations and agencies from throughout San Diego County.
The event was presented by the San Diego Chapter of Military Order of the World Wars, whose mission includes instilling love of country by honoring our nation’s flag and the liberty it promises. For a writer like myself, freedom is precious.
As I sat in the front row waiting for the event to begin, a gust of wind on the stage blew over our nation’s flag. Several people immediately rushed forward to raise Old Glory again.
The Massing of the Colors this year was co-sponsored by the Spreckels Organ Society. Patriotic music, including an Armed Forces Medley, was provided by San Diego Civic Organist extraordinaire Raúl Prieto Ramírez!
A special mention in the ceremony and program acknowledged Vietnam Veterans and their sacrifices. Fifty years ago, that terrible war ended.
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Dave Dean has been adding painted stones to the new rock garden in front of American Legion San Dieguito Post 416 in Encinitas. I spoke to him today when I happened to walk down the sidewalk. He was working in what he calls the Veterans Rock Garden.
Many more stones will be painted with patriotic designs at future events. Dave hopes that the garden will one day contain thousands of colorful additions!
Yes, this is the same Dave responsible for Dave’s Rock Garden on B Street, a few blocks east of Moonlight Beach!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
A patriotic Massing of the Colors event is returning to San Diego this October. The grand procession of flags will feature from 40 to 50 Color Guards from around our region, and will honor Vietnam Veterans, as 2023 marks the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
The 67th Annual Massing of the Colors and Service of Remembrance, presented by the San Diego Chapter of The Military Order of the World Wars, is free and open to the public. The many Color Guards will assemble in Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ Pavilion on October 14th, and the ceremony will commence at 10:30 am.
This year is also the 125th Anniversary of the famous march Stars and Stripes Forever. John Philip Sousa marches will be played by San Diego Civic Organist Raul Prieto Ramírez during the procession as it enters and exits the pavilion. The event is co-sponsored by the Spreckels Organ Society.
If you know of a Color Guard in San Diego that would like to participate, use the contact email shown in the graphic below.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
A formidable Captain America army formed today in San Diego. The call went out to assemble, and superheroes converged on the Marriot Marquis hotel from every direction!
Just as the army of superheroes seemed ready to defeat evil, more heroes arrived, swelling the ranks!
Those who would dabble in villainy beware!
As I walked through the Gaslamp up Fifth Avenue, returning home from Comic-Con, I noticed reinforcements were on the way!
Thank you for visiting Cool San Diego Sights during Comic-Con 2023!
I’ve enjoyed walking about all week, absorbing the amazing atmosphere and people watching. But I’m spent. It’s back to work tomorrow. And so this will be my final Comic-Con blog post this year.
In a couple days I’ll resume my more normal blogging. There will be posts about a fantastic exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art, hidden public art in Mission Hills, and a historical building in Coronado. And much, much more!
Until then!
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I had fun covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
An amazing Independence Day celebration was enjoyed today at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park!
It has been four years since the last 4th of July event of this magnitude in the State Park. That’s because of COVID and its unfortunate impacts on the park. But Old Town’s celebration of our nation’s birthday is back!
Many families turned out for the free fun. There were tables with crafts, a bluegrass band, historical demonstrations, authentic costumes, and old-fashioned games for the kids. The event provided a taste of how Independence Day might have been celebrated in early San Diego, back in the mid-19th century.
To all the people who make Old Town San Diego State Historic Park so wonderful–thank you!
A big 4th of July banner on the Robinson-Rose House, the State Park’s Information Center.Lots of folks were kicking back on the grassy, shady central plaza.Kids were enjoying crafts under some canopies.The Hot Pursuit Band plays old-time bluegrass music.One table concerned the living descendants of early San Diego.A visitor learns how thousands of people now living in San Diego have descended from the first residents of Old Town.
If you’d like to investigate the genealogy of San Diego families, check out this website.
To learn about the Descendants of Early San Diego, check out this website!
A look into the past of San Diego.Spinning on the porch of Threads of the Past.This year’s “Sanitary Commission” quilt at Threads of the Past. The colorful blocks were sewn by kids.What did San Diego look like in 1776? I chose the most barren-looking photo. The only structure back then was a 1769 Spanish fort, El Presidio Real de San Diego.A perfect Fourth of July afternoon for a picnic in the plaza near the historic Casa de Estudillo.Nostalgic games on the plaza included wheelbarrow races.As usual, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park’s active Blacksmith Shop drew a crowd.A smile in the garden of La Casa de Estudillo.And another smile in the courtyard!Celebrate the USA. Happy 4th!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Independence Day was celebrated in San Diego today, a couple days before the Fourth of July! The House of USA of Balboa Park’s International Cottages hosted a special Sunday afternoon lawn program that featured speeches, dancing, food and fun!
After peering into the House of USA cottage for a moment, I checked out a patriotic display by the Sons of the American Revolution San Diego Chapter, then joined the gathered audience holding my camera at the ready.
The most powerful part of the program were speeches by various House of Pacific Relations International Cottages members. They explained how people from many nations–not just France and Spain–helped the United States in its historic battle for independence.
Incidentally, tomorrow, July 3, a special organ concert will be held at Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ Pavilion. At 7:30 pm, renowned organist Robert York will be performing American classics, including music by George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin! It’s part of the 35th Annual San Diego International Organ Festival. Bring the whole family! It’s free!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
This afternoon the 15th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony was held in Lincoln Acres, a small community encompassed by National City.
People from all over, feeling gratitude for United States military members and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, gathered at La Vista Memorial Park. There we listened to the emotionally stirring words of keynote speakers, including several historians. The Memorial Day Ceremony honored 30 Civil War Veterans buried in the hilltop cemetery.
Before the ceremony began, people wandered about the grass, looking down at markers and small American flags. People mingling near the event stage talked, and when the bagpipes started, they slowly took their seats. I heard birds singing.
I sat in a spot with a limited view of the proceedings. I was unable to photograph the Rifle Salute and Taps performed in the distance by the 82nd Airborne Division San Diego Chapter.
The scheduled WWII era aircraft flyover was cancelled due to the thick overcast.
Here are some of the highlights:
Members of the 82nd Airborne Division San Diego Chapter assemble among flags by the La Vista Memorial Park pond.Charles Rosenberg plays bagpipes before the ceremony begins.The California Army National Guard advances the colors.Sophia Hoffman, a recent contestant on hit television show The Voice, sang the National Anthem beautifully.All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation.John Finch, retired US Navy Chief, read John A. Logan’s General Order No. 11, which called for a national day of remembrance for Civil War dead. It became the holiday Memorial Day. Kathleen Winchester, President of the Sons and Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, pays tribute to Civil War Veteran Milford Phillips, who died in San Diego and is buried nearby.Mark Carlson, author and military historian, reads the Gettysburg Address. …we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. He encouraged us to thank all Veterans and current service members.National City Mayor Ron Morrison recalls how Ely S. Parker, a Native American, who encountered mid-19th century bigotry, eventually rose to become adjutant and secretary to General Ulysses S. Grant.National City and San Diego County dignitaries prepare to deliver a special recognition.Tom McBride, 101 years old, is honored. He flew Corsairs with VMF-1 off the USS Bennington during World War II.Dan Sutton, history teacher at West Hills High School, also gave a speech. (That’s him in my very first photograph.) He explained that many people from San Diego traveled east to fight in the Civil War. He also presented this display, which includes the 70 pounds of equipment, food and clothing a Union soldier would carry.After the speeches a free lunch was provided to everyone. Good old American hot dogs. Many families were at the ceremony.Flags mark the final resting places of those who fought for their country.
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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Sometimes I find myself taking the broad freedoms we enjoy in this country for granted. Then I hear harrowing stories told by those who lived under brutal dictators and authoritarians.
This afternoon a moving Memorial Day Commemoration was held in San Diego. It took place at the International Cottages in Balboa Park.
There was patriotic music performed by the San Diego City Guard Band. There were tributes to those who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our country. There was the reading of the famous In Flanders Fields poem, and the handing out of symbolic poppies.
There were guest speakers with powerful, painful memories of past wars fought. And there were many who were thankful to have come to our country, escaping from places where people have been denied freedom and human dignity.
I arrived at the Memorial Day Commemoration when it was about halfway through. I stayed a long while, listening.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
The San Diego Geranium Society presented a patriotic plant show today in Balboa Park.
As visitors walked around tables that overflowed with beautiful geraniums, we were reminded that yesterday was Armed Forces Day, and that May is Military Appreciation Month. Of course, next Monday is Memorial Day.
Among the floral displays, photos and words could be found appreciating the sacrifices of service members.
One sign summed it up: The San Diego Geranium Society thanks all those in the military who have served and is serving our nation. We are forever grateful.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Take a look at this very unique three-dimensional art that honors military Veterans. It’s made of painted drywall screws!
I saw this patriotic artwork today during my visit to the USS Midway Museum. The display was getting a lot of attention on the aircraft carrier museum’s hangar deck!
The artist is Chief Joe Pisano, who has served many years in the Navy Reserve. I learned he now has an exhibition at Liberty Station. His “The Art of Immortalizing Heroes” is located inside the NTC Command Center, near the new Nautical History Gallery and Museum, which I visited here.
Joe’s display today included several flags that he created using thousands of drywall screws. The texture and wavy appearance of the flags is fantastic.
I noticed much of his artwork brings attention to POW/MIA and homeless Veterans.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Cool San Diego Sights! 