Veterans Day in SLO County: Here’s a roundup of events happening this year
Communities across San Luis Obispo County are gathering this week to honor military service members past and present.
Here’s a roundup of some of the Veterans Day events taking place around the Central Coast.
All of the celebrations are free and open to the public.
Atascadero
The Atascadero Veterans Memorial Foundation will host its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday at the Faces of Freedom Memorial.
The event at the corner of Morro and Portola roads in Atascadero will include a military aircraft flyover by the Estrella Warbirds Freedom Flight and the presentation of colors by the Cal Poly ROTC accompanied by Central Coast Pipes & Drum.
“Taps” will be performed during the laying of the memorial wreath, and quilts will be presented to local veterans by the local Quilts of Valor guild.
Following the event is a no-host barbecue by the Kiwanis. Call 805-461-0639 or visit facesoffreedommemorial.org.
Cambria
A Veterans Day ceremony starts at 11 a.m. Friday at the Cambria Veterans Memorial Building, 1000 Main St.
The keynote speaker at the event, sponsored by American Legion Post No. 432, will be retired Col. Brian Rees, a doctor who retired from the U.S. Army Reserve after 37 years of service. He’s a veteran or five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
After the program ends, the Sons of the Legion and Legion Auxiliary will provide a barbecue lunch. A $5 donation is requested.
Call 805-927-5010 or visit legionpost432.com for information.
Los Osos
A Veterans Day event will kick off at 9:45 a.m. Friday at Los Osos Valley Mortuary and Memorial Park, 2260 Los Osos Valley Road, with a helicopter flyover.
The main program starts at 10 a.m., followed by refreshments and family events at 11 a.m. For details, call 805-528-1500 or visit LosOsosValleyMortuary.com.
Paso Robles
Veterans get free admission to Estrella Warbirds Museum, 4251 Dry Creek Road in Paso Robles, on Friday. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Freedom Flight aircraft will depart the museum at 10:30 a.m., flying over the Atascadero Veterans Memorial and Paso Robles District Cemetery. For information, call 805-238-9317 or visit ewarbirds.org.
Paso Robles District Cemetery is hosting a Veterans Day ceremony that starts at 11 a.m. Friday.
Guest speakers and patriotic music are in store, followed by free refreshments after the ceremony.
The cemetery is located at 45 Nacimiento Lake Drive in Paso Robles. For more information, call 805-238-4544 or visit pasocemetery.com
Pismo Beach
The Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce will host a Veterans Day celebration at the Pismo Beach Pier starting at 11 a.m. Friday. Call 805-773-4382 or visit pismochamber.com.
San Luis Obispo
Stop by the Downtown SLO Farmers Market on Thursday for a Veterans Day celebration sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2184 in Atascadero.
The event will be held 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday on Broad Street between Higuera and Monterey streets in downtown San Luis Obispo.
In store are veterans organizations, booths, activities and live music. For details, call 805-541-0286 or visit downtownslo.com.
On Friday, the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum will host a Veterans Day Community Celebration in partnership with American Legion Post 66.
The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 801 Grand Ave. in San Luis Obispo, includes free admission to the museum’s newest exhibition, “Snapshots of Central Coast Military History.”
Also in store are a bounce house, information tables and military vehicle displays.
Visitors can write letters and create crafts to be distributed to local veterans at the Appreciation Station or bring pictures of veterans to add to the museum’s Hometown Heroes photo wall. They can also participate in a Vitalant blood drive sponsored by American Legion Post No. 66.
A hot dog lunch will be provided from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Call 805-543-1763 or visit vetmuseum.org for more information.
This story was originally published November 10, 2022 at 8:00 AM.
