​The San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade was the largest Veterans Day event for veterans in Los Angeles County, according to the parade’s organizers, attracting about 20,000 residents who “pay tribute to the men and women who serve or have served.”

“At a time when our troops are actively engaged in Afghanistan and throughout the world, the San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade is particularly important to the proud veterans, families of veterans and troops from the San Fernando Valley,” the organizers said.

Approximately 2,000 veterans from the WWII era, the Korean War era, the Vietnam War era, the Desert Storm era and Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom participated in the parade.

“Veterans Day is a day set aside to honor veterans for their services and sacrifices they and their families have made,” the organizers said.

The parade began at 11:11 am, representing the time on November 11, 1918, when World War I ended. The parade route began in Missions Hills at Laurel Canyon and San Fernando Mission boulevards, then went south to Paxton Street in Pacoima. The parade’s theme was “Honoring those who served past and present.”