Veterans Day events held & freebies offered around Coachella Valley

There are plenty of celebrations planned around the Coachella Valley to honor our armed forces this Veterans Day.

Veterans Day Deals

Palm Springs will hold its 19th annual Veterans Day Parade at 3:30 p.m. The parade begins at Palm Canyon Drive and Ramon Road and travels northbound, ending at Alejo Road. This year’s theme is ‘Honoring All Who Serve’. A patriotic concert by the Palm Springs High School Spirit of the Sands Band and a fireworks finale will follow.

Palm Desert will honor veterans at Civic Center Park at 11 a.m.

La Quinta will honor 31 residents at its Veterans Day ceremony

Desert Hot Springs residents will gather at Veterans Memorial Park, located at 10101 Palm Drive, at 10 a.m. in celebration of Veterans Day. Officials said beverages and food will be served at the ceremony and the color guard will be on hand. There will also be live music. Local veteran Richard Finn is organizing the event.

Cathedral City has thousands of American Flags in place at Patriot Park, located on the northeast corner of Dinah Shore Drive and Date Palm Drive, in honor of Veterans Day. You can tour the grounds ahead of Veterans Day as well.

Rancho Mirage: Agua Caliente Hotel and Casino will hold its 2nd annual Spirit of Hope for the USO celebration to raise much needed funds for the Bob Hope USO of Palm Springs. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and features cocktails, dinner and a live auction. Tables are $1,000 and a seat is $125. Raffle prizes and cash donations are gladly accepted.

Indian Wells will host its annual Veterans Day ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. outside of Indian Wells City Hall, located at 44950 Eldorado Drive. The keynote speaker will be former US Marine Corps Fighter Pilot Jack McEncroe. He enlisted in 1962 and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1966. His extensive military service includes assignments throughout the U.S. and abroad, including flying 352 combat missions in the F-4. The event is free and open to the public. Parking is available on Eldorado Drive.

Ciriaco Summit will celebrate the General Patton Memorial Museum’s 27th anniversary from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The free event will also honor the Immortal Chaplains: the Four Chaplains that gave their lives to save as many as they could when the ship SS Dorchester sank on February 3, 1943. The General Patton Memorial Museum is located at 62510 Chiriaco Road. For more information, call 760-227-3483 or visit generalpattonmuseum.com.

All of us at KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 want to wish all of our armed servicemen and women who bravely fight for our freedom a happy Veterans Day.

Veterans Day 2015 deals and freebies