When the city of Hermosa Beach and the Veterans Memorial Committee realized they couldn’t commemorate Memorial Day as they had in the past due to the pandemic, they went into action.
In time for Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the city and committee launched a “Veterans Are Timeless” campaign to replace the traditional Veterans Day Commemoration and Candlelight Ceremony held every year at the Veterans Memorial.
Starting in October, the city recruited friends and family of veterans, as well as veterans themselves, to submit names of veterans who have a special connection to Hermosa Beach.
On Veterans Day, local veterans will be honored with a star with their name and branch staked into the grounds around the Veterans Memorial. The stars will be on display from 11 a.m. to sundown on Veterans Day.
Senior recreation supervisor Lisa Nichols said the committee received 61 submissions.
“We’re encouraging people to come by the memorial and pay their respects, honor our veterans,” Nichols said.
Mike Flaherty, who was in the United States Marine Corps from 1965 to 1968 and served in Vietnam, has been on the Veterans Memorial Committee since the beginning and also helped celebrate the memorial’s 25th anniversary last year.
Flaherty said he feels this year’s event will help them expand their outreach.
“I think we’re going to continue adding this component of having veterans recognized via the internet and on our website so that helps us to expand our contact list, which is important to us,” Flaherty said.
According to the city’s website, the submissions are shared on the Community Resources Department’s social media channels, on the Veterans Day page and on local access channels through November 11.
Nichols said visitors to the Veterans Memorial are required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing.
