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Hundreds attend Veterans Day celebration in Palmdale

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Palmdale's annual Veterans Day ceremony began at 11 a.m. at the Palmdale Amphitheater.
Palmdale’s annual Veterans Day ceremony began at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11 at the Palmdale Amphitheater.

PALMDALE – A record number of people turned out for a Veterans Day celebration Tuesday at the Palmdale Amphitheater.

Presented by the Antelope Valley Service Organization Association, the annual event was held in conjunction with the display of the Mobile Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall for the Antelope Valley (AV Wall).

The program kicked off with a lively performance by the Highland High School Travel Ensemble. The students sang “For the Beauty of the Earth,” “God Bless America,” and the national anthem.

Mayor Jim Ledford urged to crowd to recognize the sacrifices made by veterans' families.
Mayor Jim Ledford urged the crowd to recognize the sacrifices made by veterans’ families.

Master of Ceremonies Bobby Breech implored the audience to celebrate veterans year-round.

“Let us each remember to thank them, not only today but each and every day for allowing us to live in a free country,” Breech said.

It is also important to recognize the sacrifices made by veterans’ families, said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford.

“They have the same pressure that the veterans face, and maybe more so, because they live with it every day when their loved ones are no longer here,” Ledford said. “We can never, ever say thank you enough, not only to the veterans but to the families… they’re serving too.”

A highlight of the ceremony was an original poem about the AV Wall, composed and read by Carl Hernandez, Past Commander of American Legion Post 348.

“…Their names on the Wall are real, does this Wall really heal? Please, dear Lord, give me peace; this guilt I have, let it cease. The friends I have known from the past, their names on the Wall will forever last. I will come and see you more often, for you will never be forgotten,” Hernandez said, in reading the final portion of his original poem.

The Palmdale Veterans Day celebration also included the Raising of Colors by Blue Eagles Honor Guard; a Table of Honor Ceremony conducted by Highland High School Air Force JROTC; and a reading of the poem “What is a Vet?” by Viola Lawrence of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

A few sights from the ceremony

The Highland High School Travel Ensemble opened the program.
The Highland High School Travel Ensemble opened the program.
Local dignitaries in attendance includes Palmdale City Council Member and Assemblyman-elect Tom Lackey (third from left), Palmdale Planning Commissioner Patricia Shaw (second from left) and former Palmdale School District Board Member Sandy Sandy Corrales-Eneix (left).
Local dignitaries in attendance included Palmdale City Council Member and Assemblyman-elect Tom Lackey (third from left), Palmdale Planning Commissioner Patricia Shaw (second from left) and former Palmdale School District Board Member Sandy Corrales-Eneix (left).
Blue Eagles Honor Guard conducted the Raising of the Colors.
Blue Eagles Honor Guard conducted the Raising of the Colors.
A Table of Honor Ceremony was conducted by Highland High School Air Force JROTC.
A Table of Honor Ceremony was conducted by Highland High School Air Force JROTC.
Sonia Gibbs, Commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter #39, spoke briefly and thanked attendees for coming out to the ceremony. “It makes us all feel good to see that we are represented out here,” Gibbs said.
Sonia Gibbs, Commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter #39, spoke briefly and thanked attendees for coming out to the ceremony. “It makes us all feel good to see that we are represented out here,” Gibbs said.
Viola Lawrence of the Daughters of the American Revolution read a poem titled "What is a Vet?" View the entire poem here.
Viola Lawrence of the Daughters of the American Revolution read a poem titled “What is a Vet?” View the entire poem here.
Hundreds of people attended the event.
Hundreds of people attended the event.
The Palmdale Veterans Day celebration was held in conjunction with the with the display of the Mobile Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall for the Antelope Valley.
The Palmdale Veterans Day celebration was held in conjunction with the display of the Mobile Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall for the Antelope Valley.
After the program, several attendees stayed around to view the AV Wall. The AV Wall will be displayed until 11 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11.
After the program, several attendees stayed around to view the AV Wall. The AV Wall will be displayed until 11 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11.

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Filed Under: Palmdale

2 comments for "Hundreds attend Veterans Day celebration in Palmdale"

  1. Why are people hipocrites? Here they are pretending to be very patriotic yet they elect officials that vote against veterans benefits bill. 41 republican senators voted against the veterans benefits. Yet, they go around pretending to support veterans, only for political gains.