East L.A. Parade Planned to Honor Freed Soldier
East Los Angeles veterans and residents will welcome back former Serb prisoner Sgt. Andrew Ramirez with a parade through the community and rally in Belvedere Park on Sunday.
The celebration, which will begin at Whittier Boulevard and Goodrich Avenue at 11 a.m., will feature local veterans groups and public officials, including Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera, U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson and Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.
After the parade through East Los Angeles, a homecoming rally will be held at 1 p.m. in Belvedere Park at Mednick and 1st Streets.
Ramirez and two other American soldiers were held by Serbian forces for 32 days. He is scheduled to return to military duty June 5.
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