Thanking the Brave Who Fought For Our Freedom
Many folks know that Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May and is dedicated to commemorating those who gave up their lives fighting for our nation - but do you know how Memorial Day came to be?
From time to time, some folks refer to Memorial Day as Decoration Day. Decoration Day was established in 1868 after the Civil War as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of those who died fighting in the war with flowers. The date has been said to be chosen due to the timing of when the flowers would be in bloom all over the country.
It wasn’t until 1971, that Memorial Day was declared a national holiday and expanded to include all men and women who died in any war or military action. Today, we also spend the day appreciating the brave men and women who continue to defend our country and keep us safe both at home and around the world.
In Santa Clarita we are very patriotic and there are many ways you can celebrate Memorial Day to focus on those who have served and are actively serving.
One of the ways we honor those in the military is through our Hometown Heroes Military Banner Program which you may have already seen on street poles throughout our City. The program was established by the City of Santa Clarita as a way to recognize and pay tribute to active duty personnel in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard that are either Santa Clarita residents or immediate family members of current residents.
The banners are hung on City poles three times a year around Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day. Banners highlighting Santa Clarita Valley’s Fallen Warriors are also posted along the Fallen Warriors Memorial Bridge off the corner of Golden Valley Road and Valley Center Drive.
There is a fee for the banner, but if your family cannot afford the cost, full and partial sponsorships are available. In addition, new this year, we are offering an option to honor an active military member with a free digital banner on the Hometown Heroes website! I encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to honor a family member or friend.
To learn more about the program, including fees and deadlines, please visit santa-clarita. com/Heroes.
If in the Newhall area, I recommend visiting the Veterans Historical Plaza, which is located at 24275 Walnut Street. The Plaza honors residents that have served in the Armed Forces. It is an elegant Victorianstyle plaza and features a fountain, walkways with bronze story-stations depicting each of our nation’s military conflicts and wars, flags of each of the five branches of military, and a brick walkway containing hundreds of engraved bricks honoring individuals who served in the military. The park is also home to the bronze statue of “Willie, the Drummer Boy” by artist Mark Henn.
While at the park, make sure to stop by the Fallen Warriors Monument. Unveiled in October of last year, the community-funded monument is an elegant, black granite obelisk, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and spanning 7 feet 4 inches wide, engraved with names honoring all of Santa Clarita’s fallen warriors.
Another important event coming up is the Annual Memorial Day Celebration that will take place at 10 a.m. at Eternal Valley Memorial Park and Mortuary, located at 23287 N. Sierra Hwy. in Newhall. This event brings the community together to recognize the lives of our fallen heroes.
Guests will see an avenue of American flags placed on the graves of veterans buried throughout the memorial park. This year a fly-over of World War II aircrafts by the Condor Squadron will open the event. For more information on this event, please call the memorial park at (661) 259-0800.
Santa Clarita is home to many veterans and active military members. As you celebrate the long weekend with family and close friends, please remember to keep all of our military heroes and their families in your thoughts.