The College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center will host a Pre-Memorial Day gathering Thursday morning to honor community members who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, according to a news release from COC officials.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the flagpole located in the Valencia campus Honor Grove.

On tap for the day are a special Memorial Day flag ceremony executed by students from the COC Military Club and U.S.Marines from the Santa Clarita Valley Marine Corps Recruiting Station.

The flag ceremony will bring a unique element of tradition to the COC campus, as the procedures and formalities scheduled for the event are typically only conducted on military bases — and therefore rarely seen by the public.

Following the flag presentation, the event will continue with a Veteran Information Fair aimed at uniting veterans on campus with non-veterans throughout the community.

The event will also include a special appreciation luncheon provided by Chick-fil- A. Lunch is free for veterans (proof of service required) with a minimum $5 contribution required for non-veterans.

Proceeds will support the Santa Clarita Valley Warrior’s Scholarship’ which is annually awarded to a COC student who is a military veteran working toward a degree or certificate.

American flag pins will also be available to attendees throughout the day, with students, faculty and staff encouraged to wear their pin as a show of support for all United States Armed Forces personnel.

“The Memorial Day flag ceremony will provide an opportunity for the campus community to collectively pause and remember the brave men and women who died serving in the United States Armed Forces,” said Renard Thomas, director of the COC Veterans Resource Center. “This day is to honor, appreciate and show our continued support to all veterans, as well as those currently serving.”

Ed. Note: This article was provided by College of the Canyons.