Coronado will continue a 67-year tradition on Monday with the celebration of Memorial Day in Star Park, known to many as the island’s unofficial veterans park.
Last year, there was a somber energy suspended around Star Park on this particular day. A ripple of red garrison caps could be seen throughout the crowd – members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2422 in Coronado show up to honor their fallen brothers and sisters.
In 2024, nearly 2,000 people gathered for the event, sitting in lawn chairs and on picnic blankets with small American flags, paying tribute to their fallen parents, partners, children and friends.
The city has held this event since 1958, but a few decades ago, members of the Coronado VFW took over the planning.
Christian Ellinger, a retired colonel, serves on the VFW’s Marine Corps League and has been on the planning team for a handful of years.
Ellinger served from 1991-2022 and was on numerous shipboard missions before 9/11. After the terrorist attack, he deployed to Iraq and completed multiple tours in Afghanistan.
“It is a time-honored, respectful, solemn ceremony remembering the fallen service members that we have lost,” Ellinger said.
The day consists of a presentation of colors from the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, or NJROTC, students from Coronado High School, an invocation from Fred Yerrick, the chaplain at the VFW, and then a speech from the main speaker.
This year’s main speaker is the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Savage. He enlisted in 1986 and is currently stationed at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside.
At the end of the ceremony, gold star families – those who have lost members in service – will be able to pay their respects and offer tributes while Ellinger reads their stories to the audience.
It’s important to Ellinger to be a part of this service.
Honoring the sacrifices of our brothers and sisters that have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms that we take for granted and just make us Americans can’t be forgotten.
“Honoring the sacrifices of our brothers and sisters that have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms that we take for granted and just make us Americans can’t be forgotten,” Ellinger said.
“They truly are never forgotten, especially when they have their families here. There’s a huge hole in their hearts that will never be filled. There’s an empty seat at that dining room table that’s never going to be filled.”
Ellinger stressed that it was important to note the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Veterans Day is a day of celebration for all service members that have gone before or are still alive.
The upcoming Memorial Day service is a somber remembrance, Ellinger explained. “Memorial Day remembers those that we’ve lost in the line of duty.”
The annual ceremony is sponsored by the city and several Coronado Veteran service organizations including the VFW, the Silver Strand chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and the Coronado detachment of the Marine Corps League.
Following the ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m., everyone is invited to the VFW post at 557 Orange Ave #59 for a light lunch.
