The Santa Clarita Valley Veteran Services Collaborative is set to host a Memorial Day Weekend Backpack Walk in Newhall to honor local veterans on Saturday.

The three-mile walk is set to follow a wheelchair-friendly route, and participants are encouraged to bring backpacks to simulate the real backpack marches done by those in the service, according to officials.

“The event was inspired by Kevin Duxbury, a SCV Sheriff Deputy involved with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Group, and he brought up the idea to emulate the backpacks that our service members wear in combat,” said Michael Rosen, Marketing Director for the SCV Veterans Services Collaborative.

Several local representatives are set to join the Backpack Walk, including U.S. Congresswoman Katie Hill, D-Agua Dulce, and California Assemblywoman Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita.

Prizes are set to be awarded in various categories, including heaviest backpack and best uniform, according to officials.

Registration is scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. in the Realty Executives Santa Clarita parking lot on the southeast corner of Lyons Avenue and Wiley Canyon Road in Newhall.

The three-mile walk is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m., with several water stations planned along the route. The walk will reach Newhall Avenue and then return to the starting line for lunch, according to officials.

For participants, a $30 entry fee is set to include a lunch consisting of a Tommy’s hamburger meal, ice cream from Augusta Financial and a gift bag.

Non-participant meal tickets are set to be a minimum $12 donation and includes lunch.

All proceeds are set to support the Santa Clarita Valley Veteran Services Collaborative.

The Veteran Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 23222 Lyons Avenue in Newhall. Veterans can also come to the center on the first, second and third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to meet with a qualified VSO.

To learn more about the Backpack Walk or the Veteran Services Collaborative, visit https://www.scv-vets.org/ or call 661-670-8680.

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