City to honor veterans with ceremony

Annual event will feature multiple speakers, organizations

The city of Santa Clarita invites community members to join the Santa Clarita City Council for a special Veterans Day ceremony to honor local veterans, currently serving military and their families, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11, at Veterans Historical Plaza, located at 24275 N. Walnut St. in Newhall.

The ceremony will include an opportunity to hear from members of the City Council, Navy veteran and Rep. Mike Garcia, and a special reading by Robert Heinisch as a sign of respect for prisoners of war and those missing in action. There will also be a changing of the flags by the Knights of Columbus Santa Clarita Assembly and Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 355.

Other featured speakers include the Rev. André Veluzat, Father Vaughn Winters and Fred Arnold, who will serve as the master of ceremonies. The event will also include patriotic performances of the national anthem by Sylvia Gaxiola, and “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America” by Elisha and Marco Soronio.

The Veterans Day ceremony is a collaboration between the city of Santa Clarita and 1st Marine Division Associates, American Legion, Post 507, American Legion Auxiliary, American Legion Riders, Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America, Blue Star Mothers of America, Santa Clarita Chapter No. 46, College of the Canyons Veterans Program, Disabled American Veterans, Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, Elks Lodge 2379, Knights of Columbus, Santa Clarita Assembly 2421 Prayer Angels for the Military, Santa Clarita Valley Veterans Memorial Inc., Santa Clarita Valley Veteran Services Collaborative, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, V.F.W. Post 6885, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 355, Wartime Romance and Young Marines.

For more information about the Veterans Day ceremony, contact the city’s Arts and Events Office at 661-250-3787.