This year, Menifee hosted their annual celebration for Veterans Day at the Hidden Hills Community Park. This holiday, originally known as Armistice Day, was observed to mark the end of World War I. In 1954, it was later renamed Veterans Day by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to honor all members who had served in the war.
Menifee’s veterans and family members came out in support of the federal holiday; the event featured refreshments, a continental breakfast, special keynote speakers, and an aerial flyover. It took place on November 11, 2025, from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. The commemoration also included different resource and information booths for attendees to engage with. The event was hosted in partnership with the City of Menifee’s Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee, VFW Post of 1956, and the Mt. San Jacinto College Veterans Club. The specially recognized keynote speaker for the event was Sergeant Major Gerald Saunders Jr., who is a retired U.S. Marine who has dedicated over 30 years of service to our country.
Some of the resources that were available for local military veterans and family members at the event included MilVet, a local military non-profit, Scan, an organization to help the elderly register for Medi-cal and Medicare benefits, Veterans of Foreign Wars, a nonprofit that offers veteran support programs, and Legal representatives for estate planning, wills, and trusts.
When asked about the celebration recognizing local veterans, Mikey, aged 7, shared, “My grandpa was in the Army, and I like coming here because we get to say thank you to all the soldiers.” Even the youngest of attendees shared their gratitude for the commemoration and those being recognized in honor of their service.
Sophia Brown, a senior at Paloma Valley High School and a member of the NJROTC, spoke during the ceremony, sharing inspirational thoughts with those in attendance. She reflected on a saying her Naval officer often made to her: “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Brown continued, “If we only see our country for its flaws, that’s all we will see. But when we see it for something that can be improved, something that can become better, then patriotism is a start of a spark of hope to become better”.
Another attendee, Maria, whose husband served for over 25 years in the Marines, explained the importance of these events and the way they bring communities together. She said, “Sometimes even a simple thank you means the world to them (veterans and their families), it’s a reminder that their service has not been forgotten or taken for granted”.
As the ceremony concluded, an aerial flyover addressed attendees as Sophia Brown sang the national anthem.
The Menifee City Veterans Day Celebration was a tribute to all those who have given their time and lives for the protection of our country. Still, it also brought together a deeper sense of community among the locals. Through impactful speeches, heartfelt songs, and shared gratitude, the city came together to recognize all of those who have reflected pride, courage, and sacrifice for the United States.
