As communities across the nation honor those who have served, Santa Barbara offers meaningful places for reflection on Veterans Day, including the Veterans Memorial at Santa Barbara Cemetery, the Aviator’s Memorial at the Santa Barbara Airport, and the Veterans Memorial Walk at Elings Park. The day’s observances are rooted in more than a century of history, from the World War I armistice to today’s tributes to all U.S. veterans.
Annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Santa Barbara Cemetery
Set along the coastline at 901 Channel Drive, the Veterans Memorial at Santa Barbara Cemetery provides a quiet space to reflect on the sacrifices of local service members. Volunteers commonly place small U.S. flags at veterans’ graves around Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1649 and Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation invite the Santa Barbara community to this year’s Veterans Day Ceremony on Tuesday, November 11th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Santa Barbara Cemetery. The ceremony includes presentations and performances by the UCSB Color Guard, Gold Coast Pipe & Drum Band, David Gonzales and the Santa Barbara Choral Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and The Prime Time Band and the Sons of the American Revolution. The ceremony will conclude with a flyover by The Condor Squadron. Learn more about the event here.
If you can’t make the event on Tuesday, the cemetery is open to the public daily from morning to dusk; visitors are asked to be mindful of services in progress and to use designated parking areas.
Elings Park Veterans Memorial Walk
Overlooking the city from the Mesa, Elings Park (1298 Las Positas Road) features the Veterans Memorial Walk, a scenic pathway lined with engraved pavers dedicated to individual veterans.
Families and supporters can sponsor pavers to honor loved ones, creating a community-supported tribute with panoramic views of Santa Barbara and the coastline. The walk is accessible during regular park hours, typically from early morning to sunset.
World War II Aviator Memorial at the Santa Barbara Airport
Tucked away off James Fowler Road and S. Fairview Avenue near a runway at the Santa Barbara Airport, is a beautiful memorial dedicated to the aviators of World War II…