VETERANS HONORED PARADE, DINNER AND VIGIL LAUD THOSE WHO SERVED.Byline: TONY CASTRO Staff Writer When 6-year-old Ezequiel Gomez sneaked past a crowd at the reviewing stand to shake the hand of Rear Adm. Joseph Maguire Vice Admiral Joseph Maguire U.S. Navy, assumed his responsibilities July 3, 2007 as the National Counterterrorism Center's Deputy Director for Strategic Operational Planning. Vice Adm. Maguire was confirmed for promotion to vice admiral and appointment to this position by the U.S. at the end of 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. Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, the decorated naval commander took the youngster's hand and smiled. ``I love soldiers,'' Ezequiel, a student at Gridley Street Elementary School elementary school: see school. in San Fernando, said afterward. ``When I grow up, that's what I want to be. I want to be a soldier and defend America.'' Such moments make life rewarding for military men like Maguire, the grand marshal of the third annual parade, and for veterans honored throughout the country Saturday. ``My father was a veteran, both my brothers are veterans and all of the guys I served with over the years are veterans,'' said Maguire. ``That our nation has taken one day to honor those who serve means a great deal. People serve to give, but it's nice to have time out when the country recognizes those who sacrificed and served the nation.'' Although Veterans Day was actually Friday, it was commemorated Saturday in the San Fernando Valley and much of the nation with parades, vigils and observances honoring those who have served the country, especially those who have died in its defense. At the California Army National Guard The California Army National Guard is a component of the California National Guard, the United States Army and the United States National Guard. The California Army National Guard is composed of about 20,000 soldiers. headquarters in Van Nuys, more than 600 volunteers had shown up by early afternoon to help send thousands of care packages to troops overseas and in stateside state·side adj. 1. Of or in the continental United States. 2. Alaska Of or in the 48 contiguous states of the United States. adv. Informal 1. hospitals this holiday season. Among those volunteers were actors Ed Asner and John Newton and other cast members from ``The Christmas Card,'' an upcoming Hallmark Channel film about a career soldier who takes leave to search for the woman who sends him a touching but anonymous holiday card. For volunteers like Cathy Campo of Canoga Park, whose 15-year-old son Dillon was busy preparing packages with other members of Boy Scout Troop 254 from Woodland Hills, Saturday's Veterans Day commemoration hit especially close to home. Her niece, JoAnne Burgess -- the daughter of a Vietnam War Vietnam War, conflict in Southeast Asia, primarily fought in South Vietnam between government forces aided by the United States and guerrilla forces aided by North Vietnam. veteran -- has already done one Air Force tour of duty in Afghanistan and is scheduled to return to the Middle East soon. ``This is truly important for my son and others in the troop because it's something they're doing for the soldiers serving our country,'' said Campo. That was a theme repeated often Saturday through the San Fernando Valley where other Veterans Day events included: A morning dedication of Granada Hills Veterans Park and a veterans luncheon in Canoga Park. A tribute at Fire Station 88 in Sherman Oaks, where the names of all service members who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and at the Pentagon were to be read. A dinner with turkey and all the trimmings at VFW See Video for Windows. Post 10040 in Sun Valley. A candlelight vigil hosted by Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas at the Valley Municipal Building in Van Nuys. Meanwhile, in the Northeast Valley, organizers took pride in the growth of the three-year-old parade, which concluded with a street fair and carnival at the Ritchie Valens Recreation Center. Saturday's parade involved more than 60 veterans groups, four high school marching bands and the eye-catching performance of the 100-member James Monroe High School James Monroe High School may refer to:
Pre-parade activities included the presentation by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Van Nuys, of seven medals to 89-year-old Samuel Mandel -- a World War II hero. ``It's a great opportunity for the public to just come out and say thanks for a job that's pretty hard to ever fully reward,'' said parade guest Maj. Gen. Paul Mock, commanding general of the Army's 63rd Regional Readiness Command in Los Alamitos. tony.castro(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3761 CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) Above, spectators wave their American flags at participants in the San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade, which rolled down Laurel Canyon Boulevard Laurel Canyon Boulevard is a major street in the city of Los Angeles, California. It starts off at Polk Street in Sylmar in the northern San Fernando Valley near the junction of the San Diego (Interstate 405) and the Golden State Freeways (Interstate 5). on Saturday morning. Left, people hold candles and flags at a Veterans Day candlelight vigil Saturday hosted by City Councilman Tony Cardenas. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News (3) Danielle Coronado, 12, of Granada Hills holds up a message to veterans riding in the San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer |
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