Community is Invited to Celebrate 104-year-old WWII Veteran’s Birthday

SAN DIEGO – On Saturday, July 17, members of the San Diego community are invited to participate in a surprise drive-by birthday parade for WWII Veteran Joe Renteria, U.S. Navy. Chief Renteria turns 104 years old and is one of Honor Flight San Diego’s oldest living veterans.

The drive-by parade will begin at 11 a.m.; participants should line up by 10:45 a.m. at Silver Gate Elementary School at 1499 Venice St in San Diego. The parade will then proceed to 2059 Venice Street, San Diego.

Organizers are hoping for 104 cars at the drive-by parade

Joe Renteria served in the U.S. Army for three years, and then served in the U.S Navy until he retired. During WWII, he was Admiral Halsey’s staff photographer and was in-charge of an elite photography unit taking intelligence photos. He has taken some of the nation’s most historic photographs such as the birth of the United Nations, U.S Atomic Bomb tests, and filming the inaugurations of Presidents Truman and Eisenhower.

Post-military, Joe worked at San Diego State University for 32 years starting their photo lab. There he took the iconic photo of President Kennedy delivering the 1963 Commencement Address.

When Joe went on his Honor Flight at 98-years-young, he walked 3.5 miles to the airport because his motto is to “Keep Moving.”

There is plenty of street parking for media and interviews may be conducted after the event.

The community is encouraged to send birthday cards to: Chief Joseph Renteria, 2059 Venice Street,
San Diego, CA 92107.