In honor of Veteran’s Day and our nation’s service members, thousands of guests attended the first ever Salute to Service Festival on Saturday at San Diego’s Liberty Station. The event was presented by Ashford University. 

“The festival was our way of saying thank you for the sacrifice and dedication demonstrated by service members,” stated Doug Barling, senior director of military relations at Ashford University. “Everyone had a great time, and it was very rewarding to be able to provide a day of fun for the men and women of the armed forces and the families who support them.”

The day was filled with entertainment, including live music, food, and a meet-and-greet with Will Venable from the San Diego Padres and mixed martial arts fighters. A number of prizes were given away, including a trip to the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui aboard Hawaiian Airlines.

Guests also had the opportunity to record a message to loved ones deployed abroad. NBC7 San Diego, co-presenter of the festival, will insert the messages into their Home Station San Diego program, which airs weekly to service members deployed oversees. Additionally, Ashford University hosted a booth with a range of educational resources for military families.

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahlc.org). The University offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs online and at its Clinton, Iowa, campus. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable online and on-campus programs. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, associate vice president of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.