Coronado’s Avenue Of Heroes The Avenue of Heroes Banner program is a military service recognition program sponsored by the City of Coronado. Introduced in 2014, the program has honored 163 Hometown Heroes. The City funds all the costs for this program and volunteers from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2422, the Coronado Historical Association and the Avenue of Heroes Neighborhood
Association oversee its operation. The inspiration for Coronado’s Avenue of Heroes came spontaneously in 2014 with the movement of two Navy SEALs to their final resting place. News spread quickly in Coronado. The local Rotary Club passed out American flags. People lined Fourth Street to honor the fallen service members. As the procession approached the San Diego-Coronado
Bridge, a lone Navy SEAL stood for hours at attention, saluting as he waited for the passage of his comrades. At that moment, it was clear that Third and Fourth Streets were already an Avenue of Heroes. The program was launched in May 2015 with 18 banners. Ceremonies are held twice yearly, and heroes have been recognized from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
~ Virtual Ceremony ~ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City and Avenue of Heroes Committee postponed the first of their twice-annual Hometown Heroes ceremonies of 2020 -- traditionally held in May and November. It was a difficult decision to have to postpone the May event but organizers held out hope that there would be an in-person ceremony come November. With many gathering restrictions still in place, a virtual ceremony was the only way forward. The virtual ceremony was held Saturday, November 7 from 10:30 a.m. to noon via Zoom. The ceremony will run on Coronado TV for the week following the event or will be archived on the City’s YouTube page.
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