Stetson's tribute to mark 3rd anniversary of military tragedy

Ken Stetson visits with guests at his memorial to fallen servicemen on July 30, 2021. (File photo)

On virtually every patriotic holiday, Ken Stetson is a fixture at the corner of Newport Road and Haun Road, paying tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces. This Sunday, he has added a special date to his schedule.

From about 4-6 p.m., Stetson will be on the corner with a display in honor of eight Marines and one Navy corpsman who drowned in a training exercise out of Camp Pendleton on July 30, 2020. To commemorate the third anniversary of that tragedy, Stetson will again ring a bell and read off each name beginning at 5:45 p.m. – the time the nine men died in the waters off San Clemente Island when their amphibious assault vehicle sank.

Stetson, who uses the theme “America, My Home” in his public displays, welcomes residents to stop by and pay their respects or to honk as they drive by. For a link to our previous story about this tribute, click here.