A veteran salutes during a ceremony.
A veteran salutes during a ceremony. (Courtesy WaveComm)

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1649 and Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation Sponsor event

Special Focus on the Nation’s Military Reserves

Santa Barbara, CA – November 4, 2026 – Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1649 and Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation are excited to invite the Santa Barbara community to this year’s Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday, November 11th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Santa Barbara Cemetery, 901 Channel Drive. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early.

The ceremony will take place near the main flagpole, with seating available for up to 600, with additional standing room and plenty of parking.

The open-air ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m. with performances and presentations by Bernard “Barney” Melekian, the UCSB Color Guard, Gold Coast Pipe & Drum Band, David Gonzales, the Santa Barbara Choral Society, and The Prime Time Band. The ceremony will conclude with a spectacular flyover by the San Diego Salute flying formation team. They deliver a unique, patriotic, and memorable experience, combining the power and history of classic aircraft to honor our nation’s heroes.

A national holiday, Veterans Day, celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. It was originally known as Armistice Day in the U.S. and coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day which are celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. This event honors the dedication, service and bravery of local men and women who served in the six branches of the U.S. armed forces.

No bikes or e-bikes allowed. No specialized handicapped parking, please arrive early if special parking is necessary.

For more information, please go to: https://www.pcvf.org/veterans-day-ceremony

About Santa Barbara VFW Post 1649
The VFW was established to assist veterans. VFW’s mission is to foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts and to serve our veterans, the military and our communities and advocate on behalf of all veterans. The purposes of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States are fraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable, and educational; to preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members; to assist worthy comrades; to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead, and to assist their surviving spouses and orphans; to maintain true allegiance to the Government of the United States of America, and fidelity to its institutions of American freedom, and to preserve and defend the United States from all her enemies.

About Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation
Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation is committed to honoring the men and women who have served in U.S. military efforts. PCVF does this by supporting veterans and active duty members, and related partner organizations, in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties as well as preserving military history and legacy. The Foundation works to uphold Pierre Claeyssens’s vision that those who have served are “Never Forgotten.” PCVF is funded entirely by private donations. For more information, visit www.pcvf.org or call (805) 259-4394.