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Preparations Underway For 31st Annual San Diego Veterans Day Parade

"Tow away zone" parking sign for the San Diego Veterans Day Parade sits on Harbor Drive downtown, Nov. 10, 2017.
Matt Hoffman/KPBS
"Tow away zone" parking sign for the San Diego Veterans Day Parade sits on Harbor Drive downtown, Nov. 10, 2017.

Veterans Week San Diego is getting ready for a big parade, and a big crowd to go with it Saturday. The organization expects as many as 80,000 people to attend its Veterans Day Parade.

The parade will begin on Harbor Drive near Waterfront Park at 11 a.m., then continue south toward the USS Midway Museum before ending near Pacific Highway at 1 p.m.

“This is a big responsibility," said Veterans Week San Diego President Jack Harkins, "to have charge of the celebration of Veterans Day for a county with 250,000 veterans residing here."

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The parade will feature veterans from all branches of the military. Active-duty personnel from the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy and U.S Coast Guard will also be participating this year.

"That has become now the largest public parading of active duty, men and women in uniform, in formation, anywhere in the country," said Harkins. "There will be over 1,000, probably close to 1,600."

Grandstand bleachers sit on Harbor Drive near Waterfront Park downtown for the 31st Annual San Diego Veterans Day Parade, Nov. 10, 2017.
Matt Hoffman/KPBS
Grandstand bleachers sit on Harbor Drive near Waterfront Park downtown for the 31st Annual San Diego Veterans Day Parade, Nov. 10, 2017.

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Harkins said anywhere near the mile-long route is good for viewing, but those looking for a special spot should sit near the end of the parade's route.

“At that point, the people marching in the parade become attentive to the sidelines because they’re looking for that family or friend who said 'I'll meet you at the end,'" he said. "They are over looking at you, so that's a fun place to be."

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Preparations Underway For 31st Annual San Diego Veterans Day Parade
Preparations Underway For 31st Annual San Diego Veterans Day Parade
The 31st annual San Diego Veterans Day Parade is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday near Waterfront Park in downtown.