The 70th anniversary of the end of World War II will be the theme of Wednesday's San Diego Veterans Day Parade.
The participants will step off at 11 a.m. near the County Administration Center and march down North Harbor Drive, ending up at Pacific Highway and G Street, according to organizers.
It's just one of several events taking place around San Diego County to honor those who served in the nation's military.
Former San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson, who served in the Marines, will be the keynote speaker at the annual observance at the Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial. Wilson was also California governor and a U.S. senator.
The event, which begins at 2 p.m., will also honor retired Marine Col. Jay Vargas, a Medal of Honor recipient. Among other Veterans Day events around the region:
• at 10 a.m., a ceremony will be held at the Veterans Association of North County, 1617 Mission Ave.
• at 10:15 a.m., the Fallbrook Veterans Day Parade will march along Main Street from Fallbrook Street to Village Square, where a ceremony honoring veterans will be held
• at 11 a.m., an observance is scheduled at the El Cajon Veterans Memorial, with colors presented at 1 p.m. by the MCAS Miramar Color Guard, both at 200 Civic Center Way
• at noon, the city of San Marcos will hold a Veterans Day ceremony that will remember those who fought in Korea, at Helen Bougher Memorial Park, 1243 Borden Road
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day was first declared in 1954 by President Dwight Eisenhower to honor all soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who served the nation. The holiday replaced what had been known as Armistice Day, which marked the end of World War I.
