The San Diego Veterans Day Parade, which began nearly four decades ago, is back after a three-year hiatus and will celebrate a number of military milestone anniversaries along with paying tribute to community members who served in the armed forces. The parade, which had been canceled since 2019 because of the pandemic, is slated to take off at 11 a.m. Nov.
There will be grand marshals representing each of the milestones: 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War: Gary and Larry Soper, Purple Heart recipients for their courageous actions and wounds suffered in combat during the Vietnam War. The twin brothers are retired Marine Corps staff sergeants. 50th anniversary of the return of the Vietnam War POWs: Jack Ensch, an F-4 Phantom naval aviator who was shot down on his 285th combat mission of Vietnam on Aug. 25, 1972.