Veterans honored during event in Costa Mesa

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With the A4M Skyhawk in the background, the Magnolia High School Color Guard marches to the ceremony. (Spencer Grant)

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OC Fair and Event Center CEO Michele Richards opens the Veterans Day event. (Spencer Grant)

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Two-year-old Dakota Moreno displays her flags. (Spencer Grant)

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The USO Show Troupe sings the national anthem: Schyler Conaway, Tyler Wipfli, Zoe Friedman and Katie Bianchi. At left are Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley and Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris. (Spencer Grant)

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With the A4M Skyhawk in the background, an enthusiastic Yvette Itano conducts the Saint John the Baptist Clover Choir. (Spencer Grant)

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Some World War II-style jitterbugging goes on with Steve and Linda Cuchrum, left, and Cornell Ilescu and Pat Wilkes, right. (Spencer Grant)

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With the A4M Skyhawk in the background, Vietnam veteran Danny Little proudly displays his decorations. (Spencer Grant)

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The A4M Skyhawk now “flies” before Heroes Hall. (Spencer Grant)

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Some World War II-style jitterbugging goes on with Marilea Spencer and Donovan Sinohue as U.S. Marines, right, and Pat Wilkes as a Red Cross “girl.” (Spencer Grant)

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Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley speaks at the event. (Spencer Grant)

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The USO Show Troupe, Schyler Conaway, Tyler Wipfli, Zoe Friedman and Katie Bianchi sings the national anthem. (Spencer Grant)

By Daily Pilot staff

Nov. 9, 2019 8:30 PM PT

The OC Fair & Event Center and Orange County Employees Assn. saluted local veterans Saturday during a community celebration at the Costa Mesa fairgrounds.

The event included family-friendly activities, a resource fair for veterans and free hot dogs for all guests.

As part of the festivities, officials formally unveiled the newest addition to the fairgrounds’ Heroes Hall museum — a Vietnam War-era A-4 Skyhawk jet that was relocated from the Santa Ana Civic Center in September — and served a cake to mark the 244th anniversary of the Marine Corps.

Officials also dedicated a new plaque in the Heroes Hall Walk of Honor for Capt. Thomas P. Clark Jr., who received the Distinguished Flying Cross “for heroism and extraordinary achievement while serving with Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron 232” during the Vietnam War.

Visitors to the four-hour celebration were encouraged to bring non-perishable food items, toiletries and baby items to donate to veterans in need.

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Veterans honored during event in Costa Mesa

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