On Saturday, May 25, San Dieguito Academy High School will honor the 19 school alumni who gave their lives in service during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
Former classmates, family members, and school alumni from VFW Post 5431 and American Legion Post 416 will share in the reading of the alumni monument’s names and offer personal remembrances. Boy Scouts from Troop 782, 776, and 2000 – current SDA students – will raise the flag and ring a memorial bell for each name.
“Many of the World War II vets never graduated,” says SDHS Veterans Association founder David Gonzales (class of ’59). “They just joined up, assuming they would return to finish their studies.” Event organizer Ken Harrison (class of ’73) says that fortunately, according to Department of Defense records, no SDA alumni have been killed in Afghanistan or Iraq.
Eagle Scout Nick Post (class of ’14) from Scout Troop 782 will be honored for his Eagle Scout project of rehabilitating the on-campus monument and replacing missing service medallions.
Hosted by the school’s Foundation, Alumni Association, and Alumni Veterans Association, the Memorial Day weekend ceremony is open to the public. The 11:00 a.m. ceremony will be at the campus’ Fallen Alumni Monument, near the entrance to the school’s parking lot, at 800 Santa Fe Dr., in Encinitas.
For more information contact organizer Ken Harrison, 760-754-8266 or califcomedy @ aol.com, or the SDA Alumni Association at 760-753-1121, ext. 5085 or SDA.alumni at gmail dot com.