Weekend Veterans Day events include Mt. Soledad ceremony, free pet adoptions
A Veterans Day ceremony will be held from - p m Monday at Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial File photo by Chris Stone Times of San Diego Veterans Day celebrations and commemorations begin this weekend though the ongoing administration shutdown has forced the rescheduling or cancellation of specific events At a m Saturday the Mt Soledad Memorial Association will host Honoring a Legacy Years at Sea on Land and in the Air The La Jolla memorial will celebrate all veterans but pay special tribute to the th anniversaries of the U S Navy and Marine Corps This Veterans Day is a historic opportunity to connect a monumental national anniversary with the very soil beneath our feet revealed Neil O Connell executive director of the Mt Soledad Memorial Association Standing here we recognize that the enduring legacy of the Navy and Marine Corps is deeply rooted here with over years of history in San Diego The memorial will celebrate two pioneering figures in the branches Cmdr Theodore Gordon Spuds Ellyson the Navy s first aviator and Maj Gen Joseph Henry Pendleton Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego s first commanding officer Camp Pendleton is named for him Among the speakers are Vice Adm Charles Martoglio Ret who commanded the Ronald Reagan Aircraft Carrier Strike Group The Coronado resident advises on global defense issues and teaches grand strategy at UC San Diego In addition on Saturday morning the th anniversary of the Warrior Hike Challenge up El Cajon Mountain in Lakeside s El Capitan County Preserve will be held at a m Hikes range from two to miles and from moderate to arduous The event is free and open to all ages and dogs on a leash The parking area and trailhead are located at the intersection of Wildcat Canyon Road and Blue Sky Ranch Road And for those looking to make a new friend the Helen Woodward Animal Center will welcome military members and their families to adopt a pet with waived fees Saturday through Tuesday Veterans Day The costs of adoption are being covered during the Paws for Patriots event by Animals For Armed Forces and KayBella Cares on a first-come first-served basis Approved adopters will pay just the microchip fee Sponsored military adoptions are a great example of people helping animals and animals helping people Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoption Services Director Kendall Schulz mentioned The Woodward Center leads multiple programs serving veterans including a therapy activity with therapeutic animals its AniMeals campaign which provides pet food to wounded military clients with system dogs and its Companion Animal Hospital Military Fund which offers free veterinary services to the pets of working duty enlisted military E- to E- or disabled military
