Service members, family, and friends attend the funeral service of the late U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Juan Jose Valdez at the Miramar National Cemetery, California, March 4, 2026. Valdez who enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1955 and served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1967, was the last Marine to board the final helicopter leaving the U.S. Embassy before Saigon fell on April 30, 1975. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Alexander Vaughn)
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (Oct. 1, 2025)—The sight of thousands of people smiling, the roar of aircraft echoing freedom, the sharp scent of jet fuel mingling with buttery popcorn, and the warmth of sunshine on your skin—it has once again been a thrilling time at America’s Air Show.
This year was even bigger and better. As the Marine Corps celebrates 250 years of exceptional warfighting legacy, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar did not disappoint in bringing new performances and demonstrations over the three-day event. The Silent Drill Platoon, consisting of 24 hand-selected infantry Marines, highlighted their rigorous training and excellent endurance and discipline with five performances, making this the first...
