Never Forget: Coronado, IB, Fort Rosecrans Host Memorial Day Events

Written by Khari Johnson with contributions from Jennifer Vigil and City News Service.



On Monday plaques will be added to the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial for Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty, two former Navy SEALS who died defending American lives in Benghazi, Libya on Sept. 12, 2012. 

While Coronado, Imperial Beach, other cities mark and the military Memorial Day with ceremonies and salutes to the fallen, like Woods and Doherty, a discussion has opened in IB whether the community should do something extra to salute Woods, a city resident.

Local events for Memorial Day include: 

• 10 a.m. at Star Park in Coronado, featuring Mayor Casey Tanaka, youth and school groups and the placing of a memorial wreath.
  
• 10 a.m. at Veterans Park in IB, co-hosted by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mayor Jim Janney will present a wreath as well.
  
• 10 a.m. at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma, featuring Rear Adm. Dixon Smith, who leads Navy Region Southwest, and San Diego Mayor Bob Filner.
  
• 2 p.m. at Mt. Soledad in La Jolla: The service is to include remarks by members of Naval Special Warfare, as Woods and Doherty are honored. 
  

Woods' death is extra close to home. IB has not officially recognized him through proclamation or any other means. A memorial wall proposed by Councilman Brian Bilbray would be a way to remember Woods and others who died serving their country. 

The wall could be built in Veterans Park and named the Tyrone Woods Memorial Wall, he said.  

"I'm kind of ashamed that we don't have something for service members in Imperial Beach," he said. 

At this time the memorial wall is just an idea. There is no proposed site or design, but Bilbray plans to discuss a memorial wall at a council meeting in the coming weeks, he said. 

Before then he said he wants to approach the American Legion, Veterans of
Foreign Wars and other members of the community to gain support.

In the past months, plaques were also installed at the State Department in Washington for Doherty, who is from Encinitas, and Woods. Rep. Duncan Hunter proposed that they receive Congressional Gold Medals, the highest honor Congress can award a civilian.