Torrance honors military during annual parade on Armed Forces Day

The 62nd annual Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration took place on Saturday, May 18.

Modern jets and historic fighter planes flew over Torrance. Tanks, Humvees and other military equipment rolled through Torrance Boulevard in front of thousands of spectators.

And a group of young adults raised their rights hands and took the oath of enlistment.

It was all part of this weekend’s 62nd annual Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration. The parade took place on Saturday afternoon, May 18 — on Armed Forces Day — and once again featured local dignitaries and Armed Forces leaders riding in flag-festooned classic cars. There were also more than 40 entries of bands, battalions, tanks and horse units.

“It’s the biggest event of the year,” said Mayor George Chen, greeting residents picnicking on the sidewalk after the parade. “This is to honor our military and to tell them we’re thankful for their service. We will keep this going.”

Torrance also uses the parade to annually highlight one branch of the military. This year, for the first time, it was the Space Force’s turn.

“That space is critical holds true for the average American,” said parade announcer and ABC News national news correspondent Emmett Miller. “Space capabilities, I’m sure you’re all aware of this, are woven into the very fabric of modern life.”

As such, the grand marshal for the parade was Lt.Gen.Philip A. Garrantis, commander of Space Systems Command, which is headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base, in El Segundo.

For the Space Force to take center stage was exciting, said Michiko Riley, spokesperson for Space Systems Command.

“With our fifth anniversary coming up in December, and our branch marking 70 years since the founding of the Western Development Division in Inglewood,” Riley said, “just shows we have a long history here,.”

The Western Development Division was started in Inglewood during the Cold War to research and develop a weapons system. The Army’s World War II-era Ordnance-California Institute of Technology team in Pasadena is also considered part of the Space Force’s history.

The honorary grand marshal was also space related: Col. Michael S. Hopkins, a NASA astronaut who has visited the International Space Station, had that title.

“It’s my first time here in Torrance,” he said, “and I love the fact that for 62 years now, Torrance is honoring those who have served in the military now, honoring those who have served in the military in the past and inspiring those who will serve in the future. It’s just a wonderful event.”

Torrance’s weekend of celebrating the military also includes an expo outside the Del Amo Fashion Center, which began Friday and runs through Sunday, and a 5K that preceding the parade on Saturday morning.

The 5K for Freedom, in tribute to war hero and Olympian Louis Zamperini, drew the largest number of participants since it started six years ago, said Donna Duperron, president and CEO of the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce. More than 200 military members and 976 community members signed up for the run.

Five veterans were honored at this year’s event, including, Rep.Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, former Torrance Mayors Frank Scotto and Pat Furey, and Louis Espinal and Capt. Katelin Robinson.

“The Armed Forces Parade and 5K for Freedom is an opportunity for our community to come together to pay tribute to veterans and those serving in the military,” Duperron said. “The unity that these two events bring to our community is so special.”

But it’s the parade that is the highlight of the weekend.

The Torrance procession is the nation’s longest-running municpal parade honoring the military, according to Torrance, and one of the few in the country the Department of Defense sanctions to honor the military. And Torrance doesn’t just honor active service members. Saturday’s parade featured Vietnam War veterans and veterans of the former Republic of Vietnam — the U.S.’s allies during that conflict — Civil War reenactors and the Sons of the American Revolution.

And itt even honored those who have yet to officially don a uniform.

Torrance continued its tradition of annually hosting a mass enlistment for young people during a parade. On Saturday, about two dozen people stopped in front of the grandstands. They raised their right hands and, with Garrantis leading them, said the oath of enlistment.

“At a time when our country has been supporting Democracy across the globe, it’s especially fitting to recognize the sacrifices these young men and women before you are willing to make,” Miller said. “Truly the cream of the crop of our society.”

While no official number has been released, organizers estimated a bigger crowd than the 60,000 that lined last year’s parade route, according to Sgt. Ron Salary of the Torrance Police Department.

Among those were Emer Santos and his family. They were visiting his cousin in Redondo Beach and happened upon the military display at the Del Amo Fashion Center — so they decided to return for the parade.

Santos pointed to a woman holding a sign that read, “Because of you, I live free. Thank you!” His 3-year-old son loved looking at the World War II warbirds and Coast Guard helicopters buzzing overhead. The family found a spot on Torrance Boulevard near the grandstands, where people set EZ-Ups, picnic blankets, and lawn chairs; there was even a bounce house that lined front yards.

“I was amazed we still had some World War II veterans with us, so that was a surprise,” Santos said. “I liked the big tanks and seeing all the men and women in uniforms. I joked they make me want to stand up straight. But this all does make you think that these are our soldiers and our country and that feels good.”

Staff writer Chris Haire contributed to this report.