The Mt. Soledad Memorial Association, the administrative body of one of the area’s central tributes to military veterans, is seeking volunteers in its La Jolla office and docents at the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, located atop Mt. Soledad. Volunteer opportunities include those in memorial plaque design and sales, website support, veteran event activities, social media and general administration. On-site volunteer docents answer questions about the memorial and conduct tours. Each opportunity calls for approximately three hours’ donated time a week. Training programs are in place to orient new volunteers.
“The Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial stands as a beautiful symbol and reminder of those who have served our country since the military was established in 1775,” said Bruce Bailey, president and CEO of the memorial association. “It is only through the support of our docents and volunteers that we can continue our work in honoring and recognizing those men and women.”
La Jolla resident and Senior Chief Wilfred (Bill) Sturgeon has been an association volunteer and memorial docent for the past four years. He served in the Navy and retired after 24 years of military service. He served aboard seven different destroyers in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Sturgeon is one of seven docents “helping visitors better understand the significance of this extraordinary veterans tribute, which recognizes the major contributions of those who have helped preserve the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. It’s an ideal opportunity for both veterans and nonveterans to show their patriotism while honoring those who have served our country.”
The Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial is the only veterans memorial in the United States that honors veterans, living and deceased, from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in the Middle East. The association is administered through a volunteer board of trustees and a large group of volunteers working directly with officials Joanie Miyashiro-Brennan and Denise Larkins. The association offices are located at 6437 Caminito Blythefield, Suite B in La Jolla. For additional information, call (858) 459-2314 or visit soledadmemorial.com.