14th Annual Veterans Day Parade and Car Show Honors Veterans

San Bernardino was draped in shades of red, white and blue over the weekend. The 14th annual Cruizin' "E" St. Car Show and Veterans Day Parade rolled into town Saturday, Nov. 9, and residents gathered to wave their broad stripes and bright stars, cheering on veterans marching through San Bernardino's downtown streets as they made their way from San Bernardino High School to the site of the original McDonalds on North E street, where a car show and various vendors were set up. The event commemorated the service of those men and women who have served in the United States armed forces: in the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps. This year’s special guest was Maria Vidargar Bolding, who at 90 years old is one of the last remaining original carhops at the historic McDonald’s restaurant in San Bernardino. She came to the Inland Empire in 1925 and worked for the two McDonald brothers in 1941. The yearly parade is presented by Juan Pollo Restaurants and hosted by the E St. Cruizers Car Club and the Inland Empire Military Museum. Veterans received recognition and honors from San Bernardino City officials. Newly re-elected 1st Ward Council Member Virginia Marquez asked the veterans to stand. "Thank you very much for serving our country; without your service and your sacrifice, we would not be here having the freedoms we all enjoy everyday.We take it for granted (our freedom in America), but I remind myself every single day that because of you, we have these wonderful freedoms." Cheryl Brown, Assembly Member of District 47, said, "Many of you had answered the call to duty more than once, and you have served your country and continued to serve. We want to recognize your extraordinary commitment and the commitments that you have made to us. We appreciate you." Singing a military medley which consisted of all of the military branches songs which represents them, Desiah, a teen singing group, asked that each veteran stand for recognition upon hearing their military branch announced. Desiah sang "God Bless America" while attendees faced the flying American flag, right hands over their hearts. There are two museums on the historic McDonald's property: The Inland Empire Military Museum and the unofficial McDonald’s /Route 66 Museum. Phil Yeh, a local artist, has painted a new mural celebrating San Bernardino County on the north wall of the Route 66 museum. Since 1985, Yeh and Cartoonists Across America & The World have painted more than 1,800 colorful cartoon murals promoting literacy, creativity and the arts in 49 U.S. states and 15 foreign countries. These murals have covered school, library, and community walls as well as being painted on portable lightweight form core board, city buses, bookmobiles, and billboards all around the world. Yeh continues to speak in schools, libraries and communities about creativity and the arts. “The whole project started when I painted a MIA-POW logo on the Inland Empire Military Museum a couple of years ago sponsored by my friend Jim Valdez, a veteran himself. Since both this museum and the McDonald's Museum are owned by Albert Okura, we got to talking about painting a more detailed work of art on the side of his building. Something that truly celebrates the many accomplishments that took place in this city,” said Yeh. Following the recognition ceremonies, visitors were encouraged to view the many classic cars on display and personally thank the veterans in attendance.