Veterans Day celebrated valley-wide

From east to west, people all over the Coachella Valley celebrated Veterans Day.

About 20,000 people were expected in downtown Palm Springs Sunday afternoon for the Veterans Day Parade. It was held in honor of Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Chairman Richard Milanovich — an Army veteran who died in March.

After the parade, people enjoyed a dynamic firework display. This was just one of many events in the valley celebrating brave men and women.

An air of pride blew through the Veterans Day ceremony at the 24th Annual General George S. Patton Memorial Museum Sunday afternoon in Chiriaco Summit.

People spent the day talking about the select men and women who changed our country.

An air salute flyover ignited the passion of the event, where veterans mingled and met one another, being honored for what they did for the United States.

“We’ve all been there. We really don’t talk about it. You talk about what you’re doing now, what you’ve done with your life since you got out of Vietnam.”

In addition to the ceremony and touring the museum, people enjoyed a chili cook-off and World War II vehicle displays.

“We love it. We love them, we love America. We really thank the people who have paid their dues and risked their lives, and the ones who are maimed and critically injured and still alive and well.”

“Not just the people who have died and been wounded, but everybody has sacrificed just by being out of the country, away from their loved ones and everything,” Charles Price said.

It was a day spent remembering the people it’s impossible to forget.