Vista's Veterans Day ceremony takes place at a park built around one family's determination to remember.

On Wednesday, November 11, at 9 a.m., the city will hold its Salute to Service ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, 267 S. Santa Fe Avenue. The public is invited.

The memorial is worth a look before the program begins. Its centerpiece shows a young service member reading a letter from home.

A Park With a Personal History

Veterans Memorial Park sits near South Santa Fe Avenue and East Broadway in Vista's Paseo Santa Fe District. The one-acre park was dedicated on April 24, 2016.

It honors Ernie Pinamonti, a Vista family member who was killed during the Vietnam War. His family helped create a place to remember him and others who served.

According to the City of Vista's park history, Ernie's siblings Mary Ann and Rico worked closely with the city after their parents died to carry the project forward.

The Statue That Tells a Story

Oregon sculptor Rip Caswell created a bronze likeness of Ernie using family photographs. The statue sits beside a reflecting pond, with Ernie reading a letter.

Nearby, engraved tiles display letters written by Ernie and other service members during wartime. The installation is known as Letters Home.

They're ordinary messages from people living through extraordinary circumstances. That makes them hard to rush past.

What Happens on Veterans Day?

The November 11, 2026 ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, 267 S. Santa Fe Avenue, across from Pepper Tree Frosty.

The 2026 Downtown Vista event listing invites residents to gather in honor of those who served. It does not provide a detailed speaker schedule, end time or ticketing instructions.

If you'd like to see the statue and read the tiles, arriving before the start gives you time to walk through the memorial.

Why This Vista Gathering Matters

Veterans Day is observed across the country. At this park, the connection is unusually close to home.

The Pinamonti family helped turn a personal loss into a place where neighbors can remember people they knew, people they've lost and people still serving.

The ceremony is an opportunity to take part. The letters are there all year.

Questions You May Have About Vista’s Veterans Day Ceremony

When is Vista’s Veterans Day ceremony?

Wednesday, November 11, 2026, beginning at 9 a.m.

Where will the ceremony take place?

Veterans Memorial Park, 267 S. Santa Fe Avenue, Vista.

Is the ceremony open to the public?

Yes. The 2026 community event listing invites the public; it does not indicate a ticket requirement.

Who is remembered at the park?

The park honors Ernie Pinamonti and other veterans through its sculpture and soldiers’ letters.

Has the 2026 speaker lineup been announced?

A detailed speaker list is not included in the current event listing.