Naval Aviator Jim Stockdale was being held prisoner in North Vietnam’s infamous “Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War. That’s when his wife, Sybil Stockdale, began meeting at her Coronado home with a small group of wives whose husbands were also POWs. This was the beginning of The League of Wives.
They would ultimately build a national League of Families that included the POW/MIA movement. Their efforts helped expose and reduce prisoner torture and contributed to the safe return of 591 Service Members.
The League of Wives Memorial, set to be dedicated at Star Park on June 21 as the very first memorial to military spouses in US history, has been more than three years in the making.
Brad Willis spoke with sculptors Elisabeth Frederickson-Pollnow and Christopher Slatoff, and shares interviews with league ladies from 2019.
More of the League of Wives Memorial Project: https://www.leagueofwives.com/
The League of Wives Memorial arrived in Coronado today.
The league began in Coronado at the home of Sybil Stockdale, with a small group of military spouses whose husbands were held prisoner or missing in action in Vietnam. From small gatherings around a dining room table, it became a national force and played an essential role in facilitating the return of more than 500 POWs.
Brad Willis has this Coronado Story.
(*note... the memorial dedication is set for June 21st and is sold out.)
It was an evening of remarkable musical performances at Preview Night for the "An Island Remembers" exhibit that has just opened at the Coronado Historical Association.
Brad Willis, a member of the Advisory Committee for this project, that illuminates our community's forgotten African American history, has this Coronado Story.
“An Island Looks Back” is an amazing exhibit opening tomorrow that details the history of African Americans in Coronado, replete with triumphs and tragedies that have gone untold until now. Brad Willis has this Coronado Story.
When Osvaldo Mendoza came to Coronado in 2016 to direct the music program of the Coronado School of the Arts he quickly felt something was missing. Where was the philharmonic orchestra? It’s rare for such a small community as Coronado to have a symphony orchestra, but that didn’t stop Osvaldo.
After leaving his job with CoSA, he formed the Coronado Philharmonia in 2021, and this past Saturday Osvaldo led 60 classical musicians onstage at the Coronado Performing Arts Center for a joyous Christmas performance.
Joel Ortiz and Brad Willis have the story.
After five years of serving Coronado, Police Chief Chuck Kaye has announced he will retire at the end of this year.
Chief Kaye was with the San Diego Police Department for 27 years before coming to Coronado.
Brad Willis has this exclusive interview with the chief.
An update to our earlier post as crews begin the work of clearing the debris from the downed tree limb on the Coronado Public Library Lawn. Thanks to Brad Willis for the video.
Honor flight San Diego 2024
Calling it a homecoming that is 50 years overdue, Honor Flight San Diego is set to take Vietnam-era Navy SEAL veterans to our nation’s capital this spring to honor them and thank them for their service.
The story from Brad Willis, who was on last month’s Honor Flight.
Honor Flight San Diego-The Journey
More than 80 war veterans joined Honor Flight San Diego recently for an unforgettable weekend in our nation’s capital honoring them for their service.
Brad and Morgan Willis have been reporting on the journey and have this deeper look at the flight from liftoff to a stunning welcome home back in San Diego.
Honor Flight San Diego Welcome Home!
It was a spectacular welcome home as more than 1,000 people turned out at the airport for the return of war veterans aboard Honor Flight San Diego.
Brad Willis and his son, Morgan, were aboard and have this report.
The Wall
It’s simply known as The Wall. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the most-visited memorial on the National Mall in Washington.
Brad Willis and his son, Morgan, have this look at Honor Flight San Diego veterans visiting The Wall.
