In 2019, Mayor Paul McNamara, a Veteran and retired Marine Corps colonel realized that, for too long, Escondido had not officially honored its veterans. Collaborating with American Legion JB Clark Post 149 Commander Mike Frank, Escondido’s first VetFest was born.
Once again, we honor the service of our Veterans and their families provide to our community, State, and Nation: The perils they faced in combat zones, and the goodwill they extended when helping in non-combat missions. Veterans participating in the parade represent decades of service: From World War II through the current conflicts in which we are currently engaged.
Escondido VetFest is also about our neighbors and co-workers: The citizens and businesses of Escondido who demonstrate our community’s commitment to the freedoms our Veterans protected.
We hope you will take the time to visit the booths and activities on Maple Street Plaza during the parade, and join us for VetFest at American Legion Post 149 afterwards.
VetFest kicks off with a Veterans Day ceremony, food, live entertainment, sponsor booths, and much more.

Escondido VetFest was a collaboration between the American Legion, the Brothers of 6 (a local service charity dedicated to the preservation of local historic facts), and community members who volunteered their time to make this event the best it could be. 

Thank you for joining us again this year, and every year to come, because you make this a special Escondido tradition that celebrates and honors our Hometown Heroes.

VetFest is fully funded through sponsorships and donations, and the organizing community is all volunteer. Expenses for the parade and festival are either paid for through the sponsorships of great local businesses or through very generous donations. If you would like to sponsor VetFest, please fill out our Sponsor Sign Up Form and we will contact you.

A Brief History of Veterans Day

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls.

In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C., became the focal point of reverence for America’s veterans. Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as “Armistice Day.” If the idealistic hope had been realized that World War I was “the War to end all wars,” November 11 might still be called Armistice Day. But only a few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe.

Armistice Day Changed To Honor All Veterans

The first celebration using the term Veterans Day occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1947. Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized "National Veterans Day," which included a parade and other festivities, to honor all veterans. The event was held on November 11, then designated Armistice Day. 

U.S. Representative Edward Rees of Kansas proposed a bill that would change Armistice Day to Veterans Day. In 1954, Congress passed the bill that President Eisenhower signed proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day. Raymond Weeks received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Reagan in November 1982.

A law passed in 1968 changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

A Brief History of American Legion JB Clark Post 149

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans. A couple of weeks after the Legion’s first National Convention a little group of veterans met in Escondido. During the first meeting of the group that the Post on the 24th of November 1919, it was decided to name the Post for J. B. Clark. He had been a friend of most of the organizers and had been well known and well thought of in the little community. He had gone on duty with the Navy from Escondido and was one of the few who had not returned.

Hundreds of local American Legion programs and activities strengthen the nation one community at a time. The Operation Comfort Warriors program supports recovering wounded warriors and their families, providing them with “comfort items” and the kind of support that makes a hospital feel a little bit more like home. The Legion also raises millions of dollars in donations at the local, state and national levels to help veterans and their families during times of need and to provide college scholarship opportunities.