The City of Grass Valley, in partnership with the Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce and the County of Nevada, is hosting the 2nd Annual Grass Valley Armed Forces Day Celebration in the downtown business district on Saturday, May 20th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. This event will honor active-duty personnel and announce seven individuals selected to receive 2023 Military Service Awards, recognizing one enlisted member and one junior commissioned officer from each military branch who have demonstrated excellence in their respective branches of service.
Enjoy military bands, displays, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, a parade, and various military and civilian aircraft flyovers. The downtown center of Grass Valley will come alive with the sights and sounds of our nation's military might, showcasing its impressive history and the city's ongoing support for the Armed Forces.
In addition to a parade of dignitaries, the award ceremony, and multiple flyovers, the morning will include a presentation of special recognition to Retired Navy Commander Lou Conter, 101 years old and last survivor of the December 7th attack on Pearl Harbor on the USS Arizona. In his illustrious career, he was an aviator in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and the architect of the Navy’s SERE program (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape), and served as a military advisor to presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson.
On Armed Forces Day, the nation honors the patriots who are serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard and National Guard. The event aims to pay tribute to the military personnel's professionalism and unwavering dedication to supporting and defending the country's Constitution, safeguarding peace, growing prosperity, and giving hope to oppressed peoples or those facing tyranny abroad.