Large turnout for troop support rally.
Over the weekend, many Santa Clarita residents came out to stand side by side with military veterans and The Patriot Guards in an effort to demonstrate their support for United States troops.

The rally was held at the corner of Valencia Blvd and McBean Parkway, and it was organized by local Vietnam veterans Bill Reynolds and Roy Burns.

The Patriot Guards are a large group of individuals who made a name for themselves when they started attending troop funerals after anti-war protesters began disrupting services. The Patriot Guards stood between the families and the protesters, helping the services to continue in peace.

One US Army soldier named Steven Modugno, showed up to the rally to thank the veterans and Patriot Guard members. After shaking their hands, one of the Guards offered Modugno a Patriot Guard escort down to LAX when he had to return to Officer Training School.

Patriot Guards Jerry Zimmerman (R) and Dennis Giguere (L) with Army soldier Steven Modugno.

Kathy Keysor-Smith contributed to this article.

Photos by Kathy Keysor-Smith.