By Mayor Pro Tem Laurene Weste
This year marks a milestone for our country – the 250th anniversary of the Armed Forces, specifically the United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps. For two and a half centuries, generations of Americans have answered the call to serve, protect and defend the freedoms we hold dear. That legacy of service is what makes this Veterans Day especially meaningful.
Each year on November 11, our community gathers at Veterans Historical Plaza in Old Town Newhall for a tradition that is deeply personal, profoundly patriotic and eternally grateful – the City of Santa Clarita’s Veterans Day Ceremony. The morning ceremony invites residents to come together to pay tribute to the men and women who have worn the uniform of our nation’s Armed Forces.
This year’s ceremony will once again remind us of the courage and great sacrifice that freedom requires. The morning will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by a member of the Santa Clarita Valley Young Marines, a reminder that the next generation stands ready to honor those who came before them. The Hart High School Show Choir A Cappella Group will perform two patriotic songs, filling the plaza with harmonies that stir both pride and reflection.
One of the most moving moments of the ceremony will be the Missing Man Tribute. With quiet dignity, this tradition honors those who did not return home. It is a reminder of the empty seats left at dinner tables, of the families who carry both love and loss and of the debt we can never fully repay. In Santa Clarita, we also take this opportunity to recognize the families of service members, including Gold Star families, whose resilience and courage remind us that the cost of freedom is not only made by those who serve, but also by the loved ones who support them.
A highlight of the morning will be the ceremonial Changing of the Flags, led by the Knights of Columbus, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 355 and the Santa Clarita Valley Young Marines. Watching the colors raised and lowered in honor is always a powerful moment, one that embodies the dignity and strength of our nation. Our flag is a symbol and daily reminder of the sacrifices made by our Veterans and a promise that we will never forget.
In addition to the formal program, this year’s ceremony will also feature service providers offering Veterans’ resources. These booths are an important part of the day, connecting Veterans and their families with vital information and support they need.
What makes Veterans Day truly meaningful is the unity it inspires. Veterans from every branch of the military, their families, friends and neighbors will gather together. Whether their service was in times of war or peace, at home or abroad, our veterans answered the call to protect this great nation. Because of them, we enjoy the freedoms we sometimes take for granted— the ability to gather, to speak freely, to raise our families in peace and to pursue our dreams. We are truly blessed because of their service.
As we pause on this day of remembrance, I encourage all of our residents to not only join us at Veterans Historical Plaza, but to also carry the lessons of Veterans Day into your daily life. Here in Santa Clarita, we do not forget. We honor. We remember. And we stand together forever proud of our Veterans.
I hope the community will join us on Tuesday, November 11, at 11:00 a.m., at the Veterans Historical Plaza for this important celebration. Together, we will raise our voices, our flags and our hearts in gratitude for America’s heroes – past, present and future.
Mayor Pro Tem Laurene Weste is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and can be reached at lweste@santaclarita.gov.
