Canyon Lake to honor veterans next Friday

BY

Canyon Lake residents are invited to take part in the 8th annual Veterans Day Celebration next Friday, November 11 at 10 a.m. in the Towne Center. The patriotic celebration is held to honor Veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and for their sacrifice for the common good. A crowd of more than 500 is expected to attend this year’s celebration.

The 2016 Veterans Day Committee members are putting the final touches on the plans for next week’s celebration. This weekend, committee members will clean the Veterans Monument and erect “The Field of Honor” by placing 200 flags on the lawn at the Veterans Memorial Park in the Towne Center.

The 200 flags, donated by The Chamber of Commerce, will bear yellow ribbons. Residents had the opportunity to sponsor a flag for $10, with the proceeds going to help with maintenance of the Veterans Monument. The sponsored flags will bear the name of a loved on the ribbon.

Also this weekend, the committee and volunteers from the community will place a flag on the lawn of each veteran and active duty service person in Canyon Lake who is registered with the City. Members of the Ladies of the Lake Club prepared the flags a few weeks ago by attaching yellow ribbons and notes thanking veterans and service members for their service. Preparing the flags is an annual undertaking for the Ladies of the Lake.

Next week’s veterans celebration will commence with the War Birds West planes flying over the Towne Center. The flyover is courtesy of residents David and Barbara Spraul who make a generous donation each year to make the flyover possible.

Resident Chuck Casey, a former nuclear electrician in the Navy and active volunteer in the community, will serve as master of ceremonies. This year’s keynote speakers will be members of the community.

Resident DJ Mike Shroyer of Good Times Entertainment will provide the sound system and patriotic music. The Canyon Lake Choraleers will sing the National Anthem and the service anthems of each military branch.

Veterans of all five service branches are encouraged to stand during the singing of their service anthems. The City of Canyon Lake has been designated a “Purple Heart City,” so those who have been awarded a Purple Heart also will be recognized.

A floral wreath, provided by Canyon Lake Florist, will be placed at the monument. The wreath will remain at the monument for a week for all to enjoy.

Karen Bevans, a Veterans Day Committee member, keeps a list of Canyon Lake veterans who passed away throughout the year. During the playing of Taps, a representative of a family who has lost a veteran this year will place one rose in the memorial urn next to the monument for each Canyon Lake veteran who passed away this year. One extra rose will be placed in the urn for the unknown veterans. If you know of a Canyon Lake veteran who has passed away, please contact Karen at karenbevans@hotmail.com so the passing veteran can be honored at the ceremony.

The Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts will be participating in the program again this year. The Elsinore High School Flying Tiger Junior ROTC Color Guard will be presenting the colors, and there will be a performance by the Temescal Canyon High School Drum Line.

There will be 400 chairs available for seating. With an expected crowd of 500, attendees who prefer seating are encouraged to arrive early. Four golf carts will provide shuttle service to those who need assistance getting from their car to the seating area.

The ladies in the Canyon Lake Quilters Group make several quilts throughout the year and donates them to veterans in Canyon Lake and to children’s hospitals. Each year the group donates one to be raffled off at the ceremony. The raffle is free and is for veterans only. This year, the group donated two quilts to raffle off. One quilt will go to a female veteran, the other to a male veteran.

The Veterans Day Committee will have commemorative merchandise available for purchase before and after the ceremony. The committee will be selling shirts, as well as commemorative coins and bricks. Anyone wishing to make a donation towards next year’s Veterans Day Celebration may do so at the Veterans Day Committee booth.

The POA will be providing complimentary bottled water, coffee and treats.

Coldwell Banker will supply complimentary hotdogs immediately following the ceremony.

Also on Veterans Day, the Country Club will be offering a “Build Your Own Burger” buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and its regular menu the rest of the day with a free slice of apple pie for active duty military and veterans.  Additionally, the POA is extending its gratitude to members of the community who are veterans or active duty military by offering 10 percent off meals at the Country Club and 25 percent off golf merchandise during the month of November. Members must show a valid Military ID. Discounts excludes tax and gratuity.