Patriotic Events to Honor Veterans

Veterans Day will be commemorated Saturday throughout Ventura County with flag-laden ceremonies and patriotic speeches for veterans, their families and friends.

About 700 flags will adorn Ventura’s Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, the site of an 11 a.m. ceremony Saturday. The park’s traditional Veteran Avenue of Flags is comprised of flags used during memorial services for veterans and donated by the families.

Volunteers are sought to help Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and others set up the Veteran Avenue of Flags at 8 a.m. today and also to dismantle it at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 18.

Participating in the Veterans Day commemoration, which is open to all Ventura County residents, will be American Legion Post No. 339, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1679 and Elks Lodge No. 1430, all of Ventura.

Winners of an Oxnard schools Veterans Day contest will read their essays at Oxnard’s commemoration Saturday at the veterans memorial in Plaza Park. One elementary student and one high school student will read their essays on “The Significance of Veterans Day--What a Veteran Means to Me” at the 10 a.m. celebration.

The Oxnard High School band, the Community Choraliers and color guards from area organizations will also be featured.

A free continental breakfast, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and the Salvation Army, will be provided to everyone who attends the commemoration between 9 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.

Camarillo’s Veterans Day service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday near City Hall in Constitution Park.

A commemoration and speeches will take place near a veterans monument that was dedicated last year. The event is sponsored by the American Legion Post 382 of Pleasant Valley. Also participating will be members of American Legion Post 741 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 11424, both of Camarillo.

In Simi Valley, veterans and others will gather at 11 a.m. Saturday at Rancho Tapo Park’s veterans memorial.

Featuring numerous color guards and speakers, the event is sponsored by Disabled American Veterans Chapter 55, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10049 and U.S. Marine Corps League Detachment 597, all of Simi Valley.

Free refreshments will follow at the VFW Post at 4242 E. Los Angeles Ave.