Presented by the City of Vista Join us as we honor the brave men and women who have served our country at Vista’s Salute to Service: Veterans Day Ceremony. This special event, sponsored by the City of Vista, will take place on Monday, November 11, 2024,from 10:00am to 11:00am at Veterans Memorial Park.
The ceremony will feature:
A salute from the Vista City Council
Inspiring guest speakers
Special presentations to honor our veterans
The City of Vista invites the community to come together in this tribute to our nation’s heroes.
Location
Veterans Memorial Park
267 S. Santa Fe Avenue, Vista, CA
(Across from Pepper Tree Frosty)
The Veterans Memorial Park, located in the Paseo Santa Fe District, is a privately owned park open to the public. It was dedicated on April 24, 2016. The one acre site is a beautiful place for quiet reflection and contemplation to honor and remember veterans. The “Letters Home” tiles provide a glimpse into young soldiers’ experiences during war. The park is located at S. Santa Fe Avenue near E. Broadway and was constructed by Affirmed Housing and the Pinamonti family.
The park was created by the Pinamonti family to honor Ernie Pinamonti (their son/brother) killed in the Vietnam War. Two of Ernie’s six siblings, Mary Ann and Rico Pinamonti, worked closely with the city after their parents passed away to create a park which honors not only their brother’s heroism and sacrifice, but also that of many others who fought and died in the war.
A bronze statue of Ernie by a reflecting pond reading a letter from home serves as the centerpiece of the Veterans Memorial Park. Oregon sculptor Rip Caswell created the statue using photos of Ernie to create his likeness. Large tiles engraved with moving letters by Ernie and other soldiers surround the statue. The park also includes a children’s play area.
