U.S.S. Midway Museum marks 80 years, honoring San Diego heritage

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The USS Midway Museum is marking a milestone this weekend, celebrating both the aircraft carrier’s 80th birthday and San Diego's diverse cultural heritage.

For Pha Le, who works with the museum, the celebration is personal.

“We escaped from Vietnam on a boat in 1982. We had to leave my two brothers behind and we reunited with them after 10 years of separation,” Le said.

Le, an emergency physician, has lived in San Diego for years and volunteers with Honor Flight San Diego. He says the Midway has played a big role in his community work.

“I’ve been part of Honor Flight San Diego now for 12 years, and that’s what brought me to the USS Midway Museum,” he said.

Commissioned in 1945, the USS Midway served as one of the Navy’s longest-running aircraft carriers, seeing action in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf before being decommissioned in 1992. Today, it’s one of San Diego’s most visited museums, with more than 60,000 square feet of restored flight decks, aircraft and exhibits.

“The USS Midway Museum is a true jewel of our community. It is so important to elevate service, sacrifice and also pay tribute to the vibrant community that we have here in San Diego,” Le said.

As part of its 80th birthday festivities, the museum hosted live performances from groups representing Hispanic, Asian, African American and Middle Eastern cultural traditions.

Le says the event not only honors the ship’s legacy but also strengthens connections across communities.

“We don’t always have a chance to experience cultures outside of our own. We all live in our own little bubbles, so having a free event like this on the Midway really enriches all of our lives by displaying all of the different cultures in San Diego,” he said.