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Ground Broken At Future Site Of Veterans Housing Complex In El Monte

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — The city of El Monte observed Veterans Day by breaking ground on an apartment complex described by city officials as a "first of its kind" in the San Gabriel Valley.

The comprehensive $12 million, 40-unit El Monte Veterans Apartments will offer servicemen and servicewomen health and wellness programs, job training, family reunification and legal services on site.

That groundbreaking, however, was just one of dozens of observances that were held across Southern California on Sunday.

Elsewhere in Pacoima, the ninth annual San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade got underway at the corner of Laurel Canyon and San Fernando Mission boulevards.

In West Hollywood, Rep. Adam Schiff joined other dignitaries for the city's annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Sal Guarriello Veterans Memorial.

The event started at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Holloway Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard.

Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills also held a Veterans Day program, now in its 53rd year. The event included a reading of the presidential proclamation by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich and an aerial performance by the Golden Stars Skydiving Team.

The seventh Northeast Los Angeles Veterans Day Parade began at 1 p.m. at Fire Station 55 on York Boulevard with Daniel L. Van Dyke as grand marshal. Dyke served in the Army in Vietnam from 1970-1972; in Korea from 1977-1979 and in Army intelligence.

Also at 1 p.m., Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe joined Sen. Ted Lieu and Mayor Mike Gin at Redondo Beach's observance at Veterans Park.

For more information on the El Monte Veterans Apartments and housing criteria, call Advocates for Homeless Heroes at 855-VET-HERO or visit Mercy Housing online.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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