The City of Santa Clarita honored local veterans, currently-serving members of the military and their families with a Veterans Day celebration on Thursday.
Held at Veterans Historical Plaza in Newhall, the event was attended by approximately 200 members of the Santa Clarita community after a year of virtual events.
Mayor Bill Miranda, an Air Force veteran himself, was in attendance not only to celebrate his own service, but acknowledge the bravery of each and every man, woman and military family around him.
“Veterans day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served,” Miranda said. “Our veterans are the backbone of our country. Without them, there would be no United States of America. No liberty. No pursuit of happiness. No life.”
During the ceremony, dozens of veterans, including a World War II veteran, gathered on the lawn of the Veterans Historical Plaza to watch the Knights of Columbus Santa Clarita Assembly and Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 355 change the flags flying in front of the lawn.
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“We actually flew a flag over the capital to honor the City of Santa Clarita as well as its veterans here at the beautiful plaza, so on behalf of California’s 25th congressional seat, I’d like to present to you this beautiful star-spangled banner that’s flown over the capital,” said Congressman Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, a former U.S. Navy pilot.
See Related: Santa Clarita Community Remembers Veteran Advocate Bill Reynolds
Flag in hand, Garcia went on to dedicate a speech to his comrades in arms who were missing from the celebration, ranging from those who died fighting for their country and those who died fighting their own mental warfare once they returned home.
“Every day, we lose roughly 20 veterans to suicide,” Garcia said. “This is something that is unacceptable. This is something that is avoidable. We have an obligation as veterans to talk to each other and get people to talk about their emotions.”
Ritual master Fred Arnold spoke in honor of Santa Clarita veteran advocate and historian William “Bill” Reynolds, who dedicated himself to fighting for the recognition and support of veterans.
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“Bill loved our veterans because he understood what it meant to truly serve, and he understood what it meant to truly sacrifice. In his own words, he said, ‘America was founded on the courage to fight for freedom, and that’s what the veteran community does. They take pride in that, there’s no better family than the veteran community,” said Congressman Mike Garcia during Reynold’s memorial ceremony in February.
A longtime Santa Clarita resident, Reynolds passed away on Jan. 11, 2021 at the age of 74.
The Santa Clarita City Council voted to install a plaque bearing Reynolds’ name at the Santa Clarita Veterans Historical Plaza in Newhall, where the Veteran’s Day ceremony was held and is now open for public viewing.
Rachel Matta/KHTS News
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