Battleship Iowa & Black Knight Patrol Present The 2nd Annual Veteran's Day Music Festival November 11, 2017

Iowa Battleship
250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro, CA

(S. Harbor Blvd. at W. 1st St.)
 pacificbattleship.com

10 a.m. Ceremony honoring veterans, with colors, wreath, local elected officials 11 a.m. Music begins. Three local LA bands playing from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
 11 a.m. Sailors Bar and free BBQ prepared by San Pedro Brewing company open from 11am-4pm Also on hand: - VA services including tax services and health and wellness checks offered - Vintage military vehicles and reenactors - Carnival games - Photo booth The entire weekend (10th, 11th, and 12th) free general tour admission for Veterans as well as Active, Retired and Reserve military members. Special $11 for family and friends accompanying military members.

Past coverage:

SAN PEDRO, CALIF.– The first annual Veterans Appreciation Festival drew thousands to the USS Iowa at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro yesterday. The event, sponsored by the City of Los Angeles, The Port of LA and numerous veterans groups, honored all who served in the military. Vets were treated to a free tour of the famous battleship and were honored by a variety of singers and bands, many made up of veterans. There were numerous booths from the military, federal, city and state governments, the port, The Harbor Community Clinic of San Pedro and agencies that help veterans get jobs, health care and many other services.

"This veterans festival is long overdue," LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told the enthusiastic crowd in front of the patriotic ship. "The sacrifices you and our other vets made should be appreciated and remembered always."

"Freedom is never free," said Richard Bounty, a Vietnam Army veteran. "It comes with a lot of struggle and sacrifice by millions of unsung Americans, many of whom put their lives, and are still putting their lives, on the line so we can enjoy our democratic society. We must never forget what they did and are doing right now."

Servicemen and women from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Gulf War and the War on Terror, including Iraq and Afghanistan, were well-represented at the patriotic gathering. Many wore their old uniforms or hats or carried flags. Current military also were on hand to be honored and to say "Thanks" to their predecessors.

There are more than 24 million veterans in the US, including 1,711,000 living from World War II; 2,275,000 from the Korean War; 7,391,000 from Vietnam and more than 2,245,000 from the Gulf War. Many have never gotten over their battle experiences and the festival provided information, guidebooks and counselors to assist those who attended.

LA City Councilman Joe Buscaino, a former LA police officer, lauded the community groups and services available. "Getting veterans together with services they need is a valuable part of this event," said the man, who represents LA Harbor and helped create the event.

In 1954, the bill that established the Veterans Day holiday was signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower, who served as an Army General.