The 24th annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Freedom Monument Veterans Memorial in Santa Maria brought together more than 100 people on Tuesday to honor local veterans and commemorate the sacrifice of service members from the Santa Maria Valley.

Held in front of the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, the ceremony featured patriotic performances, speeches and moments of solemn remembrance reflecting pride and enduring gratitude.

The Freedom Monument, dedicated in 2001, stands as a tribute to those who served in the U.S. armed forces, especially the 113 local service members who lost their lives in defense of the nation. The memorial includes six marble monoliths representing each branch of the military, a fountain and a mural of a bald eagle symbolizing strength and freedom.

The cere

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