Visiting a park in San Diego with a Veterans Memorial is a wonderful way to honor all who served in the military.
Although I am the daughter of a Navy Veteran, I wasn’t expecting how emotional I’d get visiting parks with Veteran memorials for this blog post. Reading the plaques for the difference branches of military and seeing the memorials for all of those who served made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. Thank you to all who served and Happy Veterans Day! Today, we honor you.
Parks with Veterans Memorials
Here are all the parks in San Diego with Veterans Memorials*
Veterans Park in Poway
The Veterans Park in Poway is amazing! There is a monument for each branch of the military with buttons to push for music or spoken word stories. This is a great park to visit with children so they can participate in honoring military veterans.
Grape Day Park
Grape Day Park in Escondido has a beautiful veterans memorial called “The Wall of Courage”. According to Visit Escondido, it is cleaned bi-monthly by members of the VFW Post 1513.
Veterans Park in Imperial Beach
A lovely memorial for Chopper the Navy Seal Dog is featured at this park in IB. This park has a playground and a dog park.
Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial
One of the most beautiful monuments in San Diego, Mt. Soledad in La Jolla honors Veterans, living or deceased, from the revolutionary war to the current war on terror. The memorial offers incredible views of the ocean.
Veterans Memorial in Vista
This beautiful memorial features a bronze statue of a solider writing letters home from war. You can read about the memorial on The City of Vista’s webpage here.
Veterans Memorial at Mira Mesa Park
The modest Veterans Memorial includes a plaque honoring all branches of the military and a community flag pole. It is right on Mira Mesa Blvd, across from Mira Mesa High School.
Here are some other parks with Veterans Memorials that I have not yet visited:
Memorial Park
373 Park Way, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Memorial Park is the Chula Vista’s second oldest park, originating in 1937, and is the site of the City’s Memorial Monument dedicated to armed forces dating back to World War II.
Veterans Memorial Garden at Balboa Park
2115 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Veterans Park and Recreation Center
785 E Palomar Street, Chula Vista, CA 91911
*There are other parks with military tributes, but I classify those separately. The parks I’ve featured here include memorials to military veterans.
Honoring a Veteran at a San Diego Park
If you’d like to honor a military veteran in your life, consider ordering a plaque or tile that will be installed in a Veterans Memorial Park in San Diego!
Here are some options:
Poway Veterans Park
A tile can be purchased for the Wall of Honor. Tiles are $150 or $350 and are installed twice a year. Click here for more information.
Chula Vista Veterans Park
Veterans Park in Chula Vista includes a prominent “Walk of Honor” walkway paved with bricks inscribed with the names of veterans. This program is temporarily on hold while repairs are done in the area, but expected to open for new applications sometime in 2021. Click here for more information.
Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial
Plaques at Mt. Soledad can feature a photo of the veteran you would like to honor and cost between $950 – $1,800. Click here for more information.
Veterans Day 2020
Although many formal events honoring veterans have gone virtual (or became drive-by events), there are still a couple of events that will take place at the parks listed above.
Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial
A Veterans Day ceremony will be livestreamed from Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial from 11 a.m. to noon Sunday, Nov. 15. No spectators will be allowed on site because of COVID restrictions.
Grape Day Park
A Veterans Day Ceremony hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1513 is at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Wall of Courage in Grape Day Park. Bring your own chairs; limited seating is available. San Diego County COVID-19 health measures will be in force. The city of Escondido has approved the event barring the county going into the “purple” tier.
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