On November 11, the city of San Diego held a grand Veterans Day parade along Harbor Drive. This year marked the 35th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm, drawing many veterans to participate, including three centenarian World War II veterans. Residents along the parade route waved and applauded in tribute, with numerous onlookers capturing the moment on their smartphones.
The San Diego Veterans Day parade is recognized as the largest event on the West Coast dedicated to honoring veterans. Established in 1987, this annual tradition is organized by the USS Midway Museum, featuring a variety of military bands, historical military formations, floats, balloons, numerous veteran organizations, and local schools. The procession moved down Harbor Drive, passing iconic locations such as the USS Midway and the veterans memorial.
This year, special guests and the chief marshal of the parade had significant ties to Operation Desert Storm, embodying the spirit of the thousands of men and women who served during this operation, their dedication and sacrifice remain a vital part of our nation’s history.
Following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, a coalition of 42 nations led by the United States launched Operation Desert Shield and subsequently Operation Desert Storm, which began on January 16, 1991. By February 28, Kuwait had regained its freedom.
The Lead Grand Marshal for this year’s parade was Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona. A former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, engineer, and NASA astronaut, Kelly was elected to Congress in 2020. During his time as a Navy pilot, he served twice aboard the USS Midway, participating in 39 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. Kelly’s impressive flying experience includes piloting over 50 different aircraft and completing more than 375 landing operations on aircraft carriers, with a total flight time exceeding 5,000 hours.
In 1996, Mark Kelly and his twin brother Scott were selected as astronauts. From 2001, Mark flew on four space missions aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, culminating with his final mission as commander in May 2011. Throughout his career, he spent over 50 days in space, including time aboard the International Space Station.
The parade featured five Grand Marshals, all of whom participated in Operation Desert Storm:
– Wardell Gillespie, a senior chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy, was responsible for electronic intelligence cryptography during the operation.
– Retired Navy Commander Cindy Perry served as a nurse, deployed to the Persian Gulf aboard the USNS Comfort in April 1990. The vivid memories she holds of the injured sailors from the USS Iwo Jima, the murky skies over the Kuwaiti coast, and the suffocating smoke from burning oil wells have left a lasting impression on her.
– U.S. Navy Petty Officer Ruben Hinojosa Jr.
– Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Susan Inot.
– Retired Navy Commander Dan Hacker, who served over 26 years and held three command positions, completing nearly 1,000 landings on aircraft carriers. During Operation Desert Storm, he served as an operations officer aboard the USS Ranger, executing multiple combat operations. Since retiring from the airline industry in 2025, Hacker has been a volunteer guide at the USS Midway Museum.
After the parade concluded, many attendees headed to the museum for exploration. The guides aboard the aircraft carrier are predominantly long-serving veterans, each with their unique stories. These former pilots vividly narrate their experiences of taking off and landing on aircraft carriers, allowing visitors to feel as though they are part of the action.
San Diego is often referred to as a “military city.” The central area houses the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, while the north features the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, and the south is home to several Navy bases and the North Island Naval Air Station. The region accommodates approximately 115,000 active-duty military personnel, with San Diego County housing around 200,000 active and retired service members.
Every year on Veterans Day, locals pay their respects to both active-duty and retired veterans. Restaurants and businesses throughout San Diego County offer free meals and services to honor them; Soapy Joe’s provides complimentary car washes across its 21 locations, while SeaWorld offers free admission to all veterans, current military personnel, and reservists through its Waves of Honor program, with discounts available for their families.