By Cameron Smyth
Santa Clarita City Mayor
Veterans Day is quickly approaching, but one day is not enough to express our appreciation for the servicemen and servicewomen in our country. I am grateful every day for those who choose to put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we have in the United States. Please take some time this week and beyond to honor and thank those who have served and those who continue to serve our great country. Without their tremendous efforts, many of the values and liberties each of us holds dear would not exist.
The City of Santa Clarita will recognize the Veterans Day holiday in a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the local veterans and currently-serving military members that enrich our community. The ceremony will honor veterans who have passed away, and military members who were killed while serving. It is outstanding to see the love and support members of the Santa Clarita community have towards our servicemen and servicewomen, and I look forward to us coming together, virtually, to show our respect for them.
As mentioned, our friends, family and loved ones in the military deserve so much more than just the Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day holidays to be commemorated. This is why our Hometown Heroes Banner program is so important. Hometown Heroes was started to honor and recognize military personnel from the Santa Clarita Valley. As you have driven around town, you are likely to have encountered banners showing the names, faces and ranks of the brave men and women serving our country. In addition to the banners that are displayed for a period of time surrounding each of the three holidays mentioned, the City also has scaled-down images that are featured year-round at City Hall and on the Hometown Heroes website (santa-clarita.com/Heroes). Additionally, a visit to Veterans Historical Plaza will allow you to stroll through the serene space, reflecting upon the engraved names of service members in the bricks installed in the walkway and viewing the Fallen warrior’s monument.
The latest installation of Hometown Heroes banners can be seen along a portion of Soledad Canyon Road, Lyons Avenue, Bouquet Canyon Road and Valencia Boulevard. Along Golden Valley Road, you will also encounter the SCV Gold Star Military Banners at the Fallen Warrior Memorial Bridge, honoring the men and women who lost their lives in the line of duty. I encourage you to drive past each and to reflect on the hard work of the servicemen and servicewomen who have fought and those who continue to fight for every American.
If you have an active military member from the Santa Clarita Valley that you would like to honor, the City’s Hometown Heroes Banner Program is now accepting submissions to be included in the next installation prior to Memorial Day. The program’s recent pricing change makes it more affordable and easy to recognize a loved one who is serving. For more information on the program, pricing and installation process, please visit santa-clarita.com/Heroes or call (661) 255-4939.
Mayor Cameron Smyth is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and can be reached at [email protected]. The views expressed in his column are those of the City and do not necessarily reflect those of The Signal. 
