LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — On a day when Americans honor the sacrifice of former and active-duty servicemen and women, volunteers in West Los Angeles are giving back.

KNX 1070′s Pete Demetriou reports city workers and Volunteer Los Angeles took part in a Veterans Day of Service on Monday to complete projects for veterans and their families.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, California Department of Veterans Affairs Undersecretary for the Veterans Home Division Brig. Gen. Robin Umberg and Salvation Army Haven Program Director of Operations Wanda Wells were on hand at the West Los Angeles Veterans Home to mark the event.

Volunteers built above-ground planters, planted flowers, and added fresh paint and improvements to activity rooms in an effort to thank those who have served in the U.S. armed forces.

Nancy Olsen, executive director of Volunteer L.A., said the work will specifically benefit veterans with limited mobility.

“Having an opportunity to do things that they might not otherwise be able to do…it’s getting outside and growing food,” Olsen said.

Villaraigosa also spoke to the need for local businesses to help get struggling vets back to work once their service is complete.

“We sometimes forget just how much they sacrifice, how difficult it is to be in war, and to come back and particularly when you’re coming back to a city without a job,” said Villaraigosa.

“One of the things that we’re doing is working with our work source centers to partner with veteran organizations to help them connect veterans who are out of work with jobs and job training,” he added.