Military veterans have been an essential part of the foundation that the United States was built upon. Their service and sacrifices over the course of the last 250 years has helped sustain the strength of that foundation as the nation has and continues to weather myriad crises both at home and abroad.
The country was never more tested than it was during World War II, a global conflict that claimed the lives of more than 60 million people. While the annual San Diego Veterans Day Parade honors all Americans who have worn the uniform of the nation, the 2025 parade paid tribute to the Greatest Generation – the veterans of the Second World War.
“One of the best things about our parade is that it is a parade by the community to salute our veterans,” said David Koontz, Midway’s marketing director and the chair of the parade. “Every parade is great because we’re saluting all veterans, however, this year was particularly wonderful because we commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and five of our grand marshals were World War II veterans who ranged in age from 98 to 104 years old.”
San Diego County boasts one of the largest veteran populations in the United States with more than 200,000 former and retired military members living and working in the county. This year’s parade featured more than 70 participants including of a variety of bands, floats, ceremonial vehicles and marching units from veterans organizations, military commands, local businesses and community service and civic groups.
“This parade is important because San Diego is a military town,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “We are America’s Finest City because of the contributions of service members and military families. Although we should be doing this every single day, today is the day that we salute our veterans.”
Sadly, of the more than 16 million Americans who served in the military during World War II, it is believed that only approximately 100,000 veterans are still alive. The parade’s five grand marshals, all Second World War veterans, represented the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Army Air Corps and Coast Guard.
“While it was certainly an honor to be in the parade, the real honor was representing my fellow World War II veterans,” said 98-year-old Al Hansen, a Midway volunteer docent who joined the Navy when he was only 16 years old and served as a gunner in a Navy patrol-bomber squadron deployed to the Pacific Theater. “There are not many veterans left from that war today, so the parade was an opportunity to let people know about the sacrifices we made all those years ago.”
“I was so tickled and happy to be part of the parade and just couldn’t wave enough at the people waving at me,” said Ena Slaughter, who recently turned 100 years old and served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Coast Guard during the war. “It was really awesome. I was so honored to honor the World War II veterans.”
The parade helped Fred Taylor, an Army Air Corps pilot, reflect on his time flying combat missions in Europe during the war.
“It was an uncertain time,” said Fred, who flew P‑51 fighters and celebrated his 104th birthday two days after the parade. “I really enjoyed the flying and had some really good flying buddies in my squadron. You build friendships that last forever.”
The San Diego Veterans Day Parade began in 1987 and continues to be the largest parade on the West Coast that salutes military veterans.
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