62nd Annual Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration Returns to Torrance

 

The City of Torrance is proud to announce the 62nd Annual Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration will take place Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19. Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of May each year and celebrates all six branches of the United States Military under the U.S. Department of Defense.

This year the United States Space Force receives the honorary military branch distinction with Lieutenant General Philip A. Garrant serving as the Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces Day Parade. Lt. Gen. Garrant is Commander of U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command, headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California. Space Systems Command is responsible for supplying our Nation, allies, and warfighters with critical timely and resilient space-based capabilities. This is critical because they close the key gaps that create vulnerability, timely because our pacing challenges are working faster to take over our Nation’s place in space, and resilient because emergency threats demand it. Our military, our Nation and our allies rely on the Space Force to deliver the space-based capabilities that protect our Nation, enable our critical infrastructures, and fuel our economy. Also joining Lt. Gen. Garrant to lead the parade are Honorary Grand Marshal, Michael Hopkins, retired U.S. Space Force Col. and former NASA Astronaut, and Senior Ranking Flag Officer, Col. Mia L. Walsh, Commander, Space Base Delta 3 (SBD 3), Los Angeles Air Force Base.

Torrance Mayor George K. Chen said, “This cherished tradition not only honors the bravery and sacrifice of our Armed Forces, but also unites us in gratitude and patriotism. Let us pay tribute to our heroes that protect us worldwide courageously and celebrate the spirit of resilience that defines our great City!”

Torrance is one of the few cities nationwide sanctioned by the Department of Defense to honor our Armed Forces through an annual Armed Forces Day Parade and Celebration. The three day celebration includes a military exhibit, military concert, special flyover surprises, 5K For Freedom, and the highly anticipated parade along Torrance Boulevard. For media inquiries or for more information on event times and locations, go to TorranceCA.Gov/AFD.