The fallen were honored at the Bella Vida Senior Center in Santa Clarita as part of a Memorial Day tribute.

To honor fallen veterans, Santa Clarita seniors drove a parade through the Bella Vida Senior Center parking lot, saluting to a flag lowered to half-mast on Sunday.

“A stream of seniors drove through the Bella Vida Senior Center Lunch Drive Thru during Friday’s Memorial Day ceremony,” wrote Robin Clough, an advocacy coordinator for the center.  “Amidst

John Swinford plays at Bella Vida Drive Thru

a sea of flags and patriotic decorations, hundreds of seniors queued up in their vehicles to recognize and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”

Senior Center CEO Kevin MacDonald opened the ceremony and expressed gratitude for the fallen and all veterans as well as acknowledging the veterans from the senior center itself.

Although in their cars and from a distance, guests voices could poignantly be heard accompanying John Swinford performing the National Anthem, according to Clough.

The American Flag outside the center was lowered by Greg Nutter, an army veteran and Purple Heart recipient, along with Ken Asam, an Air Force veteran and Senior Center Veterans Committee Chair.

“I think so many of the seniors truly appreciated the ceremony and I know they loved the music so very much,” said Drive Thru volunteer Ashley Ahmadi. “It was a lovely and meaningful way to pay our respects.”

The Bella Vida Senior Center felt it vital to find a way to have a Memorial Day Tribute in spite of and especially because of these unusual times. Although apart, seniors came together to commemorate this special day, Clough wrote.

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