Vietnam War veterans were the focus of this year’s Veterans Day parade on Harbor Drive. Photo by Chris Stone
With a special salute to Vietnam veterans, the 33rd annual Veterans Day Parade attracted thousands of spectators Monday morning along the Embarcadero.
Some 81 units took part in the 80-minute event including current and former service members, military bands, high school bands, floats, dance groups, veterans groups and local businesses.
U.S. Rep. Susan Davis, state Senate Speaker Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assemblyman Todd Gloria rode in cars, thanking spectators along Harbor Drive.
Veterans from all branches of the military along with family members were prominent along the parade route, many of them waving small flags.
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A member of the San Diego chapter of the U.S. Armed Forces Green Knights rides down the parade route. Photo by Chris Stone
Members of the Veterans Association carry a cluster of flags along the parade route. Photo by Chris Stone
Military members ride on a float celebrating a new littoral ship, the USS San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
Members of the Ca-San Diego chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America participated in Sunday’s Veterans Day parade. Photo by Chris Stone
U.S. Air Force combat veteran Trigger “El Guapo” the service dog trotted down the parade route. Photo by Chris Stone
Horses and riders of the Scripps Miramar Saddlebreds make another appearance in the Veterans Day Parade. Photo by Chris Stone
Girl Scouts and leaders carry photos of fallen World War II veterans. Photo by Chris Stone
A World War II veteran plays a harmonica aboard a trolley carrying Honor Flight veterans. Photo by Chris Stone
A boy holding a flag while riding on a Chase Bank float shouts “USA” down the parade route. Photo by Chris Stone
Local members of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, the longest running veterans service organization, took part in Monday’s parade. Photo by Chris Stone
Marilyn Wells of Escondido, whose parents were veterans, watched the parade contingents. Photo by Chris Stone
A young member of the Pink Diamond dance group entertains the crowd. Photo by Chris Stone
LGBT veteran military members marched in the parade that drew thousands of spectators. Photo by Chris Stone
Brittany Eldridge and her baby, Gabriel, enjoyed the family outing at the Veterans Day Parade. Photo by Chris Stone
Members of VeteransForPeace.org took part in the parade. Photo by Chris Stone
A group of young girls enjoyed waving their American flags as units passed by. Photo by Chris Stone
Former Vietnam prisoners of war waved to spectators. Photo by Chris Stone
A member of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society waved to spectators. Photo by Chris Stone
Povas Miknaitis, San Diego County Veteran of the Year 2020, waves to the crowds. Photo by Chris Stone
Madeline Herschelman, 3, whose grandfather is marching in the parade, twirls to band music. Photo by Chris Stone
Members of the Police Emerald Society Pipe Band from Nassau County, New York, entertain the spectators at the parade. Photo by Chris Stone
Veterans sitting in temporary stands by Waterfront Park cheer as military units pass. Photo by Chris Stone
A collie sports a Veterans of Foreign War hat during the Veterans Day parade. Photo by Chris Stone
A member of San Diego County Probation Department hands out wristbands along the parade route. Photo by Chris Stone
A veteran waves his flag as parade participants pass. Photo by Chris Stone
Brittany Eldridge and her infant, Gabriel, watch the San Diego Veterans Day parade along the Embarcadero. Photo by Chris Stone
A young boy heads to the San Diego Veterans Day Parade route. Photo by Chris Stone
The parade was followed by a concert and celebration at Broadway Pier featuring country music singer Coffey Anderson and comedian Heather Marie.
Ship tours continued Sunday afternoon as Fleet Week wound down. The USS San Diego, a new vessel in the Navy’s fleet, welcomed visitors.
Members of the West Coast Drill Instructors Association prepare to reenact the flag raising at Iwo Jima during WWII. Photo by Chris Stone
San Diego is home to more than 226,000 veterans, who make up more about 9 percent of the population of San Diego County, according to San Diego Regional Chamber Foundation figures.
San Diego County is estimated to have the third-highest number of veteran residents of any county in the nation. Area veterans make up 6.8 percent of the total local labor force between ages 18 and 64, said the 2017 updated report.
An estimated 80.4 percent of San Diego’s veterans have some college/associates degree or higher, which is significantly higher than Diego’s non-veteran average of 67.8 percent.
The state’s veteran unemployment rate has been around 3 percent, according to Employment Development Department.
The San Diego area has 110,000 active duty personnel, which is about 7.6 percent of San Diego’s population.
Pearl Harbor survivor Stuart Hedley waves to spectators at the 2019 Veterans Day Parade. Photo by Chris Stone
