San Fernando Valley honors veterans with annual parade as government shutdown continues
In the San Fernando Valley, every year, thousands of people gather to honor the country's veterans with a special Veterans Day parade. Even as the government shutdown continues, this year will be no exception.
The parade along San Fernando Mission and Laurel Canyon boulevards is a celebration for America's heroes, the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our freedom.
This year marks the 21st San Fernando Valley Veterans Day parade, the largest of its kind in Los Angeles County, drawing nearly 20,000 people each year.
Mayor Karen Bass took part in the ceremonies later this morning, delivering remarks before joining the procession. She said the event was a great way to celebrate veterans and their sacrifice. As the daughter of a World War II veteran, Bass said it's important that all veterans across the city have housing and access to the resources they need.
The parade traveled south just over a mile down Laurel Canyon and ended at Ritchie Valens Recreation Center in Pacoima on Paxton Street.
About 2,000 veterans from WWII to those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan will ride or march. Organizers said it's a chance to reconnect, remember, and recognize service that spans generations.
This year's celebration came as the federal government shutdown forced the cancellation of some Veterans Day events across Southern California.
The annual "flag for every hero" ceremony at Riverside National Cemetery, where volunteers usually place nearly 300,000 flags at veterans' graves, was canceled due to staffing shortages and logistical issues. But union members from the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters stepped in, placing more than 2,000 flags to make sure heroes there are not forgotten.
Despite the shutdown, most veteran services remain open, which include VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, benefits processing, burials, and the Veterans Crisis Line. The VA's main call center and the Veterans Crisis Line are open 24 hours a day.