'Today we commemorate more than 1.2 million men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice,' said Vice Adm. Steve Koehler, U.S. Navy Commander, 3rd Fleet. 'Today we remember that freedom isn’t free.'
Mayor Todd Gloria paid a special tribute to Capt. Jennifer Moreno, a native San Diegan. She was an Army nurse who served and died in Afghanistan in 2013 and the first woman to have a VA Medical Center named after her.
Gloria, Koehler, and a young Girl Scout participated in the traditional wreath ceremony. The silence was interrupted by a man who shouted the lyrics of the famous anti-war song"War " Morgan served in three wars — World War II, Korea and Vietnam. While he was celebrating his 96th birthday today, to him this day is about something bigger.
Outside the USS Midway, another tribute was held to honor the fallen. Volunteers with the organization San Diego Veterans for peace read names aloud. A somber bell tolled after each name was read.