America’s fighting men and women will be honored Sunday in Murrieta.

The 16th annual “Veterans Day Parade” will get underway at 10 a.m. near the intersection of Ivy Street and Washington Avenue, rolling through the historic downtown area, concluding about three hours later at Town Square Park, Adams Avenue and Kalmia Street.

Representatives from all service branches, marching bands, military vehicles, city and county officials, public safety personnel, vintage automobiles and other attractions will be part of the procession. A flyover by historic warbirds is also planned.

Further tributes will be paid at the park, where the Murrieta Rotary Club’s 10th annual Field of Honor opened Saturday, with the unveiling of more than 2,000 3-by-5-foot American flags, bearing the names of active-duty and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Activities are scheduled all week at the location to underscore the importance and sacrifices associated with national service.

“It’s a week to pay honor and express thanks,” according to a rotary statement. “And it’s also a time to educate — visitors to the Field gain knowledge about American history. We learn about our country’s flags, its highest military honor, its war dead.”

On Saturday, Riverside’s 13th annual “A Salute to Veterans Parade & Expo” was held, featuring representatives from dozens of organizations, with veterans from each service branch taking part, led this year by U.S. Air Force Reserve Col. Matthew Burger, who commands the 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base in Moreno Valley.

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