Many Americans will give thanks to Veterans across the country this weekend and upcoming Monday, and Santa Monica will be doing so, too.
Several Veterans Day celebrations will be occurring this weekend, including an SMC military appreciation football game, a free-tattoos-for-Marines event dubbed Infidel Ink near LAX and a Virginia Avenue Park community get together.
“I'm just thankful that there are people that sacrificed for us to have some of the freedoms we’re not seeing in other societies, other countries,” said Gina Frazier, organizer of a Veterans Day Celebration at Virginia Avenue Park.
Her event will have a continental breakfast and raffle prizes for Veterans and is co-hosted by the City, Parent Connection Group and the Santa Monica Police Department.
Frazier comes from a military family and says the event is personal to her, adding she’s been reaching out to any Veterans she could find whether in person, at the VA or in homeless shelters to spread news of her event.
“Even if the turnout isn't that big, serving retired [service members], National Guard, young, old, all ethnicities, anyone that's done service with the military, giving them a Thank You is important.”
The Veterans Day Celebration takes place at Virginia Avenue park this Monday, November 12 from 9 a.m. to noon. Donations of all kinds to attending Veterans are welcomed.
At SMC’s first annual “Football Pads and Patriots” event, Veterans will receive free admission and food at halftime as SMC plays against Pierce College. According to a press release, SMC’s football team will also don digital camouflage uniforms sponsored by American Legion Palisades Post 283 to mark the occasion.
“Every year, hundreds of veterans filter through SMC and this event is the perfect way to honor their hard work and dedication to the principals that make this country great, while also giving them and the community an opportunity to show some school spirit in rooting for our Corsair team on the field,” Jere Romano, commander of Palisades Post 283 and
Santa Monica College police sergeant said in the press release.
The football game is at SMC this Saturday, November 10 at 12:30 p.m.
At the 2nd Annual Infidel Ink event, Santa Monica native Jared Morga organized a military appreciation event which will give Marines free tattoos courtesy of Hollywood Stars Tattoo. Co-hosted by the American Legion, the event will also double as a fundraiser for The Mendleton Foundation, a non-profit run entirely by retired and active duty servicemembers that work to end military and veteran suicide through community support.
Infidel Ink takes place at Hollywood Stars Tattoo 9200 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles this Saturday, November 10. The event starts at 2 p.m. and will be “going all night,” according to Infidel Ink’s press release.
Volunteers will meet at the Downtown T-Mobile store on Sunday to pack care packages for active duty military. Care Kits contain 7-10 items that will be assembled by T-Mobile staff and volunteers. The completed kits are then sent to Operation Gratitude headquarters where they will be sent to our military heroes. Volunteers do not need to provide any items, just their time. Please RSVP Email or Call Elisha Corona at: (626)253-1429 Elisha.corona6@T-Mobile.com to volunteer.
The City of West Hollywood will have a Veteran’s Day Ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
The City of West Hollywood invites community members to join City officials, staff members, and representatives from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station and the Los Angeles County Fire Department in honoring our local veterans at a special ceremony at the Sal Guarriello Veterans' Memorial, Santa Monica Boulevard & Holloway Drive, West Hollywood. For more information call (323) 848-6534 or visit www.weho.org
