Celebrating service to country: Local events to recognize Veterans Day

Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press
Updated ·4 min read
As Veterans Day draws near, several organizations in the High Desert are planning dinners, parades, and ceremonies to celebrate the men and women who served in the U.S. military.
As Veterans Day draws near, several organizations in the High Desert are planning dinners, parades, and ceremonies to celebrate the men and women who served in the U.S. military.

As Veterans Day draws near, several organizations in the High Desert are planning dinners, parades, and ceremonies to celebrate the men and women who served in the U.S. military.

The nation will observe Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 10, and state and federal buildings will be closed for business to honor the holiday, which falls on Saturday, Nov. 11.

Phelan

Kicking off the salute to veterans is the Snowline Joint Unified School District, which will host its Annual High Desert Veterans Dinner at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at Serrano High School in Phelan.

Veterans and one guest are invited to participate in the free banquet. The menu will include pulled pork, cheesy potatoes, coleslaw and a roll courtesy of Wild Bill's Smokey Meats.

Tickets are available at Pizza Factory in Phelan, Phelan McDonalds, DCB banks in Phelan/Wrightwood, Victorville Motors and A-Tech Transmission. For more information, call 760-868-5817.

As Veterans Day draws near, several organizations in the High Desert are planning dinners, parades, and ceremonies to celebrate the men and women who served in the U.S. military.
As Veterans Day draws near, several organizations in the High Desert are planning dinners, parades, and ceremonies to celebrate the men and women who served in the U.S. military.

Veterans Celebration - Barstow

Barstow Community College will host a Veterans Day Celebration from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the college at 2700 Barstow Road. The event includes a resource fair, noon luncheon and a guest speaker.

Veteran Outreach - Victorville

The Azusa Pacific University School of Nursing will serve local veterans during its annual Sock, Shoes and Salvation foot washing outreach from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9 at the Lord's Table on the campus of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church on the corner of Sixth and A streets in Victorville. There will be a mobile shower, free haircuts and shoe and socks giveaways.

Victorville

City of Victorville officials will host its 27th Annual Veterans Day Celebration at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 with a Fun Run/Walk on Saturday on the corner of Seventh Street and Forrest Avenue in Old Town Victorville.

Following the run, the Veterans Day Parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the corner of Seventh and Tracy streets. The caravan will head north to the corner of Seventh Street and Forrest Avenue, the site of the Victorville Veterans Memorial.

Each year, the parade has included marching bands, classic cars, floats, and veterans waving at hundreds of flag-waving, patriotic supporters sitting along Seventh Street.

At the memorial, Victorville officials will pay tribute to veterans from across the ages. A special video tribute to Vietnam veterans will be featured this year. The ceremony will also include a video presentation that will feature dozens of Victorville veterans. A printed program will also spotlight the veterans.

As Veterans Day draws near, several organizations in the High Desert are planning dinners, parades, and ceremonies to celebrate the men and women who served in the U.S. military.
As Veterans Day draws near, several organizations in the High Desert are planning dinners, parades, and ceremonies to celebrate the men and women who served in the U.S. military.

Barstow

Disabled American Veterans, Bruce Patterson Chapter #68, will sponsor a Veterans Day service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Mt. View Memorial Park, 37067 Irwin Road in Barstow.

Hesperia

The Hesperia Recreation and Park District will host its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Hesperia Lake Park, 7500 Arrowhead Lake Road. The ceremony will be followed by live music and vendors from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, visit HesperiaParks.com.

Wrightwood

The annual Veterans Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Wrightwood Veterans Memorial, 1274 Evergreen Road.

Apple Valley

The Veteran’s Day on the Overpass event is scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 on the Dale Evans Parkway overpass at Interstate 15 in Apple Valley. Traditionally held on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, this event has been attended by many who bring flags and signs as they wave to passing motorists.

Victor Valley College

Former Disney star Chelsea Emma Franko will perform a USO-themed tribute concert, "Star and Stripes Forever: Salute to the Troops” on Veterans Day in Victorville.

The concert is scheduled on Saturday at 2:30 pm at the Victor Valley College Performing Arts Center at 18422 Bear Valley Road. Concert tickets are $10 and free for veterans.

During the show, Franko will be accompanied by a 10-piece little big band, which will take the audience on a nostalgic journey through the great American songbook that includes many patriotic and wartime songs.

Tickets are available online and at the door.For more information and to purchase tickets, visit vvc.edu/pac-events.

Veterans can pick up their tickets directly through VVC Marketing Director Robert Sewell by calling 909-208-8515 or emailing VVC Marketing Coordinator Andrew Caravella at andrew.caravella@vvc.edu.

This story will be updated as additional event information becomes available.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Celebrating service to country: Local events to recognize Veterans Day