Santa Monica to Host Veterans Day Coastal Gathering
City officials and the U.S. Army will hold a Veterans Day event in Beach Parking Lot 4 on November 11, 2026, marking the event's seventh year.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Civic
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City officials and the U.S. Army will host a Veterans Day coastal gathering in Beach Parking Lot 4 on November 11, 2026, beginning at 11 a.m. The formal proceedings will be followed by an hour of live musical performances, with a Coulson Aviation flyover featuring a Chinook helicopter and a C-130 aircraft.
Why it matters
The event moves the Santa Monica Veterans Day observance from the Santa Monica Veterans Memorial, where it began in 2020, to a coastal venue. Attending veterans and active-duty personnel will receive complimentary ride wristbands from Pacific Park and free boxed meals coordinated through Meals on Wheels.
The event is in its seventh year, having originated in 2020 as an intimate ceremony at the Santa Monica Veterans Memorial. Entertainment is curated by Rora Wilde and iHeartRadio, and the expected attendance figure has not been announced.
The players
U.S. Army
The United States Army is the land warfare branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and co-hosts the event alongside city officials.
Gen. Ronald P. Clark
Gen. Ronald P. Clark is the commanding general of the U.S. Army and delivers the keynote address at the gathering.
Dan Hall
Dan Hall is a Santa Monica councilmember and Army veteran who opens and concludes the speaking lineup.
Coulson Aviation
Coulson Aviation is an aerial firefighting and heavy-lift aviation company conducting the flyover featuring a Chinook helicopter and a C-130 aircraft.
The details
Formal proceedings run from 11 a.m. to noon, opened and closed by Councilmember and Army veteran Dan Hall, with keynote remarks from Gen. Ronald P. Clark, commanding general of the U.S. Army. The U.S. Army Los Angeles Recruiting Battalion will post the colors, and Maj. Gen. Shane Buzza will oversee an official swearing-in ceremony for future enlistees.
Timeline
2020: Event originated as an intimate ceremony at the Santa Monica Veterans Memorial.
November 11, 2026, 11 a.m.: Coastal gathering begins at Beach Parking Lot 4.
November 11, 2026, 11 a.m. to noon: Formal proceedings and military flyover.
November 11, 2026, following noon: Hour of live musical performances.
Season Trajectory
The event's relocation from the Veterans Memorial to Beach Parking Lot 4 expands it from an intimate ceremony into a large public observance. Its growth from the 2020 origin marks a shift toward a more public-facing Veterans Day tradition in Santa Monica.
Attending veterans and active-duty personnel can receive complimentary ride wristbands from Pacific Park and free boxed meals coordinated through Meals on Wheels. The gathering is scheduled for November 11, 2026, beginning at 11 a.m. in Beach Parking Lot 4.
The takeaway
Veterans and active-duty personnel planning to attend the November 11 gathering can take advantage of the free Pacific Park ride wristbands and Meals on Wheels boxed meals. Arriving for the 11 a.m. start ensures access to the formal proceedings and flyover.
Further reading
For more local civic happenings, explore the Civic section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SM Mirror.
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