This Veterans Day, the sound of brass and the sweep of ocean wind will again converge at Veterans Park by theRedondo Pier, where the city gathers each year to honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces.
On Tuesday, November 11, the city’s traditional Veterans Day Ceremony will begin at 1 p.m.—a one-hour observance that blends community, reflection, and gratitude. The ceremony, held beside the Veterans Memorial, remains one of the South Bay’s most personal tributes: intimate, local, and surrounded by the Pacific horizon.
The Ceremony
This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Army Colonel Andrew Baker, Commander of the Los Angeles District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His remarks will center on leadership, service, and the continued duty to support those who served long after their missions end.
Redondo Beach Mayor Jim Light will open the program with a civic greeting, followed by comments from Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi and other local leaders, including veterans, community advocates, and military dignitaries. Music will be performed by the Redondo Union High School Wind Ensemble, led by Christopher Lee, setting the tone with patriotic pieces and solemn compositions meant to carry across the coastal air.
The ceremony will include the formal retirement of the American flag flown over the Veterans Memorial—a quiet, symbolic moment that closes one chapter and opens another. The retired flag will be presented to a local veteran in recognition of service and sacrifice.
Support & Community
In addition to the ceremony, the American Veterans (AMVETS) will have their AMVETS ONE bus parked in front of the Redondo Beach Elks Lodge. The mobile unit will provide resources and information to help prevent veteran suicides and connect service members to ongoing support. Their presence turns the event from remembrance into action—an opportunity to strengthen the community that continues to serve long after deployment.
Youth groups including the Coastal Naval Sea Cadets, Redondo High Marine Corps Junior ROTC, and the United USA Pageant Legacy Maker Academy will also participate, representing the next generation learning what honor and service look like up close.
After the Ceremony
Following the tribute, the Redondo Elks Lodge will host a community barbecue in its parking lot adjacent to Veterans Park. The event is complimentary for veterans, military members, and first responders, and $5 for all others. It’s a familiar scene—neighbors gathered over grilled food, stories shared between generations, and an afternoon that ends not in formality but fellowship.
For those who attend, the view alone feels symbolic—the Pacific stretching endlessly west, the memorial standing firm against the breeze. It’s a reminder that remembrance isn’t an obligation; it’s a privilege.
Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Park
Location: Veterans Park, 309 Esplanade, Redondo Beach, CA
Date and Time: Tuesday, November 11 | 1 p.m.–2 p.m.
Photo credits: Photos courtesy of Joe Juarez
