Celebrations of local veterans continue despite the pandemic
Every year for past decades people have honored the men and women who served our country on November 11th but due to pandemic many events across the valley have either been postponed or gone virtual.
News Channel 3’s Dani Romero has more on what we can expect this Veterans Day.
The Palm Springs Veterans Day parade won’t be marching through downtown this year.
“So disappointed that we aren’t having this year cause we draw really good crowds we pack the town," said George Stettler, a veteran.
And he’s right. Hundreds of locals would line the streets to say thank you to our armed forces. George Stettler, a veteran, has helped with the Palm Springs parade for the past two decades.
Stettler said he’s going to miss it.
“We do alot of work with groups and then with desert hot springs junior rotc unit which is a marine unit, our contact there basically lost so its going to be a bummer of a year.”
Stettler said he’ll be celebrating the day differently.
“I am going to take my wife out and that’s going to be about it because you can’t get your groups going and get our groups mix and matching so its going to be a totally different experience for all of us.”
Although the parade has been cancelled, that’s not stopping the city of Palm Springs from honoring them.
“We will be providing a drive thru appreciation luncheon for our veterans," said Cynthia Alvarado Crawford, Director of Parks and Recreation for city of Palm Springs.
Director of Parks and Recreation, Cynthia Alvarado Crawford said they are still planning to make the day special.
“We will have a presentation of colors by the American Legion color guard and there will also be a flyover that will be presented by the Palm Springs Air Museum.”
In this time of the coronavirus, Stettler said its important to salute our heroes.
“Just think about our former friends that are with us or not with us anymore and wish the young men and women in all of the services just have a great day," said Stettler. "We enjoy meeting with you, we love to support you and we all hope you stay safe.”
Take a look at the events happening around the Coachella Valley on Wednesday.
- City of Palm Springs Veterans Day Drive-Thru Appreciation Luncheon - Starts at 11 a.m. in front of City Hall
- The city of Palm Springs is hosting a drive-thru luncheon that is taking the place of the annual parade this year
- The drive-thru luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in front of City Hall located at 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way
- Veterans should enter in their vehicles from Civic Drive and exit City Hall from El Cielo Road
- The Palm Springs American Legion will present the Color and the Palm Springs Air Museum will provide a patriotic flyover at 11 a.m.
- Interested veterans should sign up by emailing recinfo@palmspringsca.gov or call (760) 323-8272.
ADVERTISING
- The City of Palm Desert’s Virtual Veterans Day Celebration - Starts at 11 a.m.
- Streaming live on Palm Desert's Facebook and Youtube channel
- The program will feature a keynote speaker from the 7th Marine Regiment at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms as well as a patriotic concert performance
- Video presentation honoring local veterans
- Drive-through birthday celebration for a World War II veteran turning 105-years-old - Starts at 11 a.m. at the Joslyn Center
- The Joslyn Center is hosting a special drive-through birthday celebration for beloved Joslyn member John Curran, a World War II veteran, who will be turning 105-years-old on Veterans Day
- At the Joslyn Center located at 73-750 Catalina Way. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- All in the community are invited to participate.
- Free Veterans Day Admission and Fishing at Lake Cahuilla for Veterans and Service Members
- Free admission is open to active duty military personnel and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard and federal and state reservists.
- To qualify, veterans need to present valid proof of military service.
- The free admission is extended to all other guests in the vehicle.
- Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park will be open Veterans Day from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Located at 58075 Jefferson Street in La Quinta
- Veterans Day & International Day of Peace ceremonies - Starts at 11 a.m. at Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City
- Hosted by Veterans for Peace, AMVets Post 66, and Occupy Coachella Valley
- Desert Memorial Park is located at 31-705 Da Vall Drive in Cathedral City
- 11 a.m. to Noon
- Space will be limited to the first 50 people to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
- Forest Lawn Virtual Veterans Day Celebration - Starts at 11 a.m.
- Stream live at Facebook.com/ForestLawn
- The event will honor members of the United States Military with a flyover, patriotic music, a rifle salute, an invocation, a color guard, a wreath laying, and more.
- Palm Springs Air Museum Special Drive-in: Midway
- Doors open at 5:15 pm, movie begins at Midway begins at 6 pm
- Tickets are $8. Click here to buy tickets.
Know of any other Veterans Day events going on around the valley? Let us know, send an email to Share@KESQ.com
Here's a couple of national level Veterans Day ceremonies and events that will be livestreamed as well:
Take a look at the events happening around the Coachella Valley on Wednesday.
- City of Palm Springs Veterans Day Drive-Thru Appreciation Luncheon - Starts at 11 a.m. in front of City Hall
- The city of Palm Springs is hosting a drive-thru luncheon that is taking the place of the annual parade this year
- The drive-thru luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in front of City Hall located at 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way
- Veterans should enter in their vehicles from Civic Drive and exit City Hall from El Cielo Road
- The Palm Springs American Legion will present the Color and the Palm Springs Air Museum will provide a patriotic flyover at 11 a.m.
- Interested veterans should sign up by emailing recinfo@palmspringsca.gov or call (760) 323-8272.
ADVERTISING
- The City of Palm Desert’s Virtual Veterans Day Celebration - Starts at 11 a.m.
- Streaming live on Palm Desert's Facebook and Youtube channel
- The program will feature a keynote speaker from the 7th Marine Regiment at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms as well as a patriotic concert performance
- Video presentation honoring local veterans
- Drive-through birthday celebration for a World War II veteran turning 105-years-old - Starts at 11 a.m. at the Joslyn Center
- The Joslyn Center is hosting a special drive-through birthday celebration for beloved Joslyn member John Curran, a World War II veteran, who will be turning 105-years-old on Veterans Day
- At the Joslyn Center located at 73-750 Catalina Way. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- All in the community are invited to participate.
- Free Veterans Day Admission and Fishing at Lake Cahuilla for Veterans and Service Members
- Free admission is open to active duty military personnel and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard and federal and state reservists.
- To qualify, veterans need to present valid proof of military service.
- The free admission is extended to all other guests in the vehicle.
- Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park will be open Veterans Day from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Located at 58075 Jefferson Street in La Quinta
- Veterans Day & International Day of Peace ceremonies - Starts at 11 a.m. at Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City
- Hosted by Veterans for Peace, AMVets Post 66, and Occupy Coachella Valley
- Desert Memorial Park is located at 31-705 Da Vall Drive in Cathedral City
- 11 a.m. to Noon
- Space will be limited to the first 50 people to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
- Forest Lawn Virtual Veterans Day Celebration - Starts at 11 a.m.
- Stream live at Facebook.com/ForestLawn
- The event will honor members of the United States Military with a flyover, patriotic music, a rifle salute, an invocation, a color guard, a wreath laying, and more.
- Palm Springs Air Museum Special Drive-in: Midway
- Doors open at 5:15 pm, movie begins at Midway begins at 6 pm
- Tickets are $8. Click here to buy tickets.
Know of any other Veterans Day events going on around the valley? Let us know, send an email to Share@KESQ.com
Here's a couple of national level Veterans Day ceremonies and events that will be livestreamed as well:
- Vietnam Veterans Wall ceremony
- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s Veterans Day Ceremony at The Wall will be virtual this year
- The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. PST
- You can watch it live at Facebook.com/VietnamVeteransMemorialFund/
- National Veterans Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery.
- The U.S. Army Military District of Washington will conduct a Presidential Armed Forces Full Honor Wreath-Laying Ceremony
- The ceremony starts precisely at 8 a.m. PST with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns
- The ceremony will be livestreamed at Facebook.com/VeteransAffairs
