Flags will be flying, bands will be playing and parades will be held in Southwest Riverside County, Friday, Nov. 11, all to honor and celebrate our military veterans active or inactive for their love and sacrifices for the freedoms we enjoy in our nation and all its territories.
The origin of this special day in America began in 1947 by World War II veteran Raymond Weeks in Birmingham, Alabama who organized “National Veterans Day,” which included a parade and other festivities to honor all veterans. The day was originally designated Armistice Day, which was held on Monday, Nov. 11, 1919, the date that ended the First World War. It was on the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of November” and hailed in the British Commonwealth.
Some of the events happening this Veterans Day in the Valley News coverage area are listed below with details included. We all should be grateful for what veterans do and have done for us on this special day.
Menifee
Menifee will be celebrating Veterans Day in Central Park from 10 a.m. to noon in Menifee’s Central Park, 30268 Civic Center Drive. There will be special presentations to veterans, speeches from local officials and an opportunity for veterans and their families to learn about the local resources available to them. The event is free and open to all ages. There will be flags and other patriotic memorabilia on display throughout the park. One of the planned events will be the awarding of prizes to young school students who submitted their best patriotic Veterans Day drawings to the Community Services Department.
Murrieta
Veterans Day in Murrieta will begin with a parade that begins on Ivy and Washington streets at 10 a.m. and turns on B street ending in Murrieta’s Town Square Park. Congressman Darrell Issa, a veteran himself, will be the Grand Marshal of the parade. The parade to honor those who have served in the Armed Forces will conclude at the Field of Honor, where 2,000 full-sized American Flags are displayed. The Field of Honor, presented by the Rotary Club of Temecula Valley-New Generations honors heroes including those who served or are serving in the United States armed forces, law enforcement, fire and other first responder posts.
Lake Elsinore
The public is invited to the Lake Elsinore Storm Diamond Stadium for the free 2022 Veterans Day Observance Ceremony starting at 9 a.m. The most recent Veterans Memorial Brick honorees will be announced and unveiled at the event. The Storm also can let you honor your own veteran by purchasing a personalized engraved brick at the City’s Veterans Memorial for $85 per brick. See www.lakeelsinore.org/veteransmemorial for more information.
Hemet
The Veterans Day Celebration in Hemet will be held at Gibbel Park at Kirby St. and Florida Ave. beginning at 10 a.m. and lasting until 1 p.m. Activities will be in the parking lot of Gibbel Park and the park grounds will be adorned with 1,776 full-sized American Flags of Freedom staked by volunteers to honor, celebrate and remember our veterans who served in the United States armed forces. The ceremony will include a WWII aircraft flyover, junior ROTC participation from Hemet Unified high schools, an appearance by Blue and Gold Star family members along with a keynote speaker from the Wounded Warrior Project. Local veterans will also be personally recognized for their years of military and community service.
The ceremony will be followed by food, activities, military- and veteran-based informational booths and Hemet Police Department K9 demonstrations.
Perris
For early risers, Skydive Perris at 2091 Goetz Road will have skydivers conducting a Jump for Valor for Valor Veterans Day Weekend Boogie, beginning at 5 a.m. The skydivers, many veterans themselves, will jump with the J4V crew at the Skydive Perris airfield to honor our veterans and those still serving in the armed forces.
Wildomar
The City of Wildomar will be presenting a Veterans Day Concert beginning at 5 p.m. in Marna O’Brien Park, 20505 Palomar St. in Wildomar. There will be a live concert, vendor booths, food for sale and a beer garden. The event will continue until 8 p.m.
There are many other smaller Veterans Day events in Southwest Riverside County through the weekend at other locations including Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Posts with breakfasts and dinners to celebrate and honor our veterans.
Tony Ault can be reached at tault@reedermedia.com.
