Prayer Angels for the Military, American Legion Post 507 and Hero Home Source LA are inviting the community out to support local veterans for Armed Forces Day.
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The group will get together from 9 a.m. to noon at the downtown Newhall Library to organize care packages for the troops.
“Everybody just really appreciates getting something from home, especially when it’s from somebody you don’t know,” said JD Kennedy, a field representative from Congressman Howard Buck McKeon, R-Santa Clarita.
“Unfortunately, a lot of them don’t have family members who send them things regularly, or they don’t have family back home,” he said.
Kennedy served three tours in Iraq for the Marine Corp before he began working for McKeon.
Trail mix, jerky, chips, nuts, hard candy, gum, granola bars, protein bars, fruit roll ups, fruit snacks and individually wrapped cookies are all part of the suggested food-donation list, according to event officials.
Cash donations are appreciated, and will be used for postage.
The morning will start with a flag ceremony conducted by Santa Clarita Boy Scouts and a prayer for our heroes. All are welcome to stop in and sign the “Thank you for your service banner,” which will be shipped with the packages, too.
The library is located at 24500 Main St. in Newhall.
Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days in Aug. 31, 1949.
The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department — the Department of Defense.
Each of the military leagues and orders was asked to drop sponsorship of its specific service day in order to celebrate the newly announced Armed Forces Day.
The Army, Navy and Air Force leagues adopted the newly formed day.
The Marine Corps League declined to drop support for Marine Corps Day but supports Armed Forces Day, too.
“Armed Forces Day, above all, honors the dedicated individuals who wear the uniforms of their country. Each serviceman, wherever he may be, whatever his task, contributes directly and importantly to the defense of the nation. The task of each one is the task of all the Armed Forces: to protect the freedoms which underlie the greatness of America.” – General Earle G. Wheeler, 1967 – Former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
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