The Santa Maria Valley Chamber and city of Santa Maria invite the community to the 23rd annual Veterans Day ceremony, 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Freedom Monument Veterans Memorial.
The Veterans Memorial, at 600 S. McClelland St., pays tribute to the brave men and women from the Santa Maria Valley who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
The Veterans Day event will feature the dedication of a new plaque honoring local veteran groups that have served the local community. The Kiwanis Club of Santa Maria will provide a free breakfast for all attendees at 10 a.m. before the ceremony.
The Freedom Monument, established in 2001, stands as a testament to the sacrifices of 113 local Santa Maria Valley veterans who died in combat from World War I to the present.
Each year, names and plaques have been added to honor not only those who passed away, but also all veterans who have served.
The Chamber of Commerce collaborates with Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2521, and the Santa Maria Valley Honor Guard to organize the event, with logistical support from the Recreation and Parks Department.
The keynote address will be delivered by Bob Hatch, with Dave Cross serving as master of ceremonies. Hatch is a decorated U.S. Army veteran who served in combat in Vietnam. Cross is a U.S. Army veteran of the Cold War.
“We invite everyone in our community to join us to honor our veterans,” said Cross. “This is a special occasion to show the communities’ appreciation to all who have served to defend our country and protect the freedoms we enjoy.
“We should also reflect on the sacrifices made by our service members and celebrate their enduring legacy.”
Other speakers will include Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino and chamber president Michael Boyer.
For more, visit the 23rd Annual Freedom Monument Ceremony page.