On Wednesday, Nov. 11, San Marcos residents are encouraged to join the City of San Marcos for a Veterans Day Ceremony to celebrate and thank the hometown veteran heroes.
Taking place from 12 to 3 pm at Helen Bougher Memorial Park, 1243 Borden Road, the program will celebrate local veterans though a formal military ceremony. A $5 lunch will be provided by Jersey Mike’s followed by a traditional reception with complimentary cake provided by Mission Hills High School and coffee and tea provided by Old California Coffee Company.
The military ceremony will feature the Presentation of Colors by the Camp Pendleton United States Marine Corps and musical performances by Doreen Treadwell and the San Elijo Middle School Jazz Band. Retired Colonel Greg Rassatt, who has served more than 25 years of active duty Army Service including hazardous duty tours in Bosnia and Kuwait, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.
Each year the program celebrates all veterans while highlighting the wartime experiences across different conflicts. This year’s theme, entitled “Korea: Remembering Veterans of a Forgotten War,” will focus on a conflict that had no full mobilization. Close to 1.8 million members of the American military served in Korea. Of that number, over 100,000 were wounded. Almost 37,000 died in the war theater. Some 8,000 remain MIA.
Three local Korean War veteran guest speakers—Navy veteran Joe Johansen, Marine veteran Joe De Armas, and daughter Mary Borevitz of Marine veteran Arthur Chidester declared missing-in-action—will share their wartime experiences.
Admission to this special event is free but seating and parking is limited so guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and carpool. Military veterans and active duty personnel are invited to attend in uniform.
For more information, please visit www.san-marcos.net/veterans or call Communications Officer Sarah Macdonald at (760) 744-1050, ext. 3174.