More than 700 turn out for Memorial Day at La Jolla’s Mount Soledad memorial
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- Marines from Camp Pendleton present the colors during the opening remarks of the Memorial Day service at the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial. Photo: Jerod Harris
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- Dane Sparks holds a doll that resembles his father Sgt. Jesse Sparks who is deployed overseas. Photo: Jerod Harris
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- Sgt. Maj Bill “Ooo-rah” Paxton salutes the flag at Memorial Day event. Photo: Jerod Harris
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- Lt. Col Gregory Boyington Jr. (USAF), son of the late Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, takes in the program at Mount Soledad. Photo: Jerod Harris
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- Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Neil O’Connell shows his pride. Photo: Jerod Harris
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- Deborah Anderson takes in the scenery. Photo: Jerod Harris
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- Karl Westgate cleans the plaques of veterans on the memorial wall. Photo: Jerod Harris
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- Luke Smith of Oceanside holds an American Flag over a plaque for pilot Gregory “Pappy” Boyington of Baa Baa Black Sheep fame. Photo: Jerod Harris
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- Dick Leister is a docent at the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial. Photo: Jerod Harris
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- trumpet player from the MCAS Miramar band plays ‘Taps’ in celebration of all of the veterans. Photo: Jerod Harris
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- The crowd at the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial claps as a squadron of airplanes flies overhead in the missing man formation. Photo: Jerod Harris
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- Mount Soledad drew a crowd on Memorial Day 2011. Photo: Jerod Harris
Among those in the crowd was Lt. Col Gregory Boyington Jr. (USAF), son of the late Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, the World War II legend and famed Black Sheep Squadron leader. His likeness was added to the more than 3,000 black granite plaques on the Memorial Walls honoring veterans from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in the Middle East.
He was also saluted by a member of the VMA-214 squadron based in Yuma, consisting of AV-8B Harrier (V/STOL) jets.
Boyington’s 1958 memoir, “Baa Baa Black Sheep,” recounted his military career and became the basis for a television series starring Robert Conrad that aired from 1976 to 1978.
The Memorial Day program featured remarks by Vice Admiral James Zortman, USN (Ret.), former Commander, Naval Air Forces, along with music by the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Marine Band Brass Quintet. The program also featured the Marine Color Guard Camp Pendleton, MCAS Miramar Marine Honor Guard, and an aircraft fly-over by San Diego Salute T-34 Performance Team, conducting the “Missing Man” formation.
KCBQ radio host and syndicated columnist Mark Larson was master of ceremonies.
Related posts:
- Mount Soledad Association to salute ‘Pappy’ Boyington on Memorial Day
- Bishop’s graduates gather for 2011 commencement
- Appeal of year-round rope barrier at Children’s Pool is Dec. 9
- 53rd annual La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival is Dec. 5
- La Jolla Christmas Parade salutes community’s youth
Short URL: http://www.lajollalight.com/?p=42585
Posted by Staff
on May 30, 2011. Filed under Featured Story, La Jolla, News.
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Nice photos Jer…