FUN ON THE FOURTH : YOUNG, OLD PAY TRIBUTE TO NATION.Byline: Luz Villarreal Daily News Staff Writer Looking out over the large crowd of veterans gathered under trees and around picnic tables, Earl Bouchard sighed, then his eyes filled with tears. ``This is the true meaning of July Fourth, coming out and supporting our veterans,'' said the 53-year-old member of the Sunland-Tujunga Elks Lodge, which sponsored the ninth annual Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. barbecue for veteran patients of the Sepulveda Veterans Association Medical Center on Thursday afternoon. ``This is our fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to ,'' he said. ``It certainly warms the heart.'' Hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salads and soda pop were the order of the day for more than 400 veterans who turned out to celebrate Independence Day in North Hills to be with friends and listen to live country music and patriotic tunes. Many wore red-white-and-blue baseball caps and T-shirts or carried tiny American flags. ``It's a wonderful feeling to have these guys entertain us,'' said 70-year-old World War II Navy veteran George Miller George Miller may refer to:
The food of choice was similar all across the Southland where thousands of families gathered at parks, beaches and neighborhood parties to watch fireworks shows and be with friends. In downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The sprawling, multi-centered megacity is such that its downtown core is often considered just another district like Hollywood or , nearly 5,000 meals were served to homeless people at the Union Rescue Mission The Union Rescue Mission (URM) is a private, Christian, homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles's skid row. It is the largest, private, homeless shelter in the United States. . In the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. area, residents lined parade routes and attended fireworks shows scheduled at Hansen Dam Hansen Dam in Los Angeles County, California was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District in 1939 and 1940. The project is located near the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley on Tujunga Wash, about one mile below the confluence of the Big Tujunga Wash in Lake View Terrace, Pierce College in Woodland Hills and Cal State Northridge. The day was a scorcher scorch·er n. 1. One that scorches: an iron that was a scorcher. 2. Informal An extremely hot day. but that didn't keep people from enjoying the outdoors. Afternoon temperatures at the beaches hovered in the 70s and reached the 90s in the Valley but that didn't stop Helen Baxton, Sally Bell and Dorothy Visconti. The women were among 150 senior citizens from the Casa Panorama apartment complex who were treated to a picnic by their local postal workers. ``We're lucky, we got the best seats,'' said 84-year-old Baxton, sitting in the shade. ``We got great music, too,'' she said of the young group of mariachi musicians tuning their instruments. ``They make you feel good to be alive.'' ``It makes me feel so good we can mix with other ethnic groups and enjoy this day together,'' said Visconti, 83. Sam Pascual, the building's postal carrier, sponsored a picnic for the seniors last year and solicited help from co-workers this year. ``We want to send out a message to everybody that seniors should not be neglected, especially on days like this,'' he said. ``This is also my way of saying thank you to America.'' Pascual was born in the Philippines. He became a U.S. citizen in 1986. Back at the VA Medical Center, Bill ``B.J.'' Jones braved the heat to be with his buddies and reflect on the holiday. ``I'll trade no other place for America,'' said the Korean War Korean War, conflict between Communist and non-Communist forces in Korea from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel into Soviet (North Korean) and U.S. (South Korean) zones of occupation. veteran, who wore a T-shirt with a picture of Old Glory. Above the flag read ``Try to Burn This.'' ``With its rights and wrongs, it's still my country.'' CAPTION(S): 3 Photos PHOTO (1 -- color) Coleen Whiting drives her mini-car in the Valley Village parade. Terri Thuente/Daily News (2 -- color) Phyllis Nelson, left, and Marian Mirsky, both of La Crescenta, ride the big slide at the Fourth of July family festival held at Crescenta Valley High School Crescenta Valley High School is an secondary school located at 2900 Community Avenue in La Crescenta-Montrose, an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The school is a part of the Glendale Unified School District. . Tom Mendoza/Daily News (3 -- color) Fireworks explodes at Pierce College Thursday night. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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