An annual ceremony to honor some Central Coast residents who gave their lives in uniform for America has been cancelled this year due to coronavirus safety concerns.
The Freedom Monument Veterans Memorial Ceremony is normally held on December 7th, the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor which plunged the United States into World War II. But, officials with the Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce say COVID-19 makes it impossible to safely have the gathering this year.
The monument is a joint project between the Chamber and the City of Santa Maria. It includes the names of 113 Santa Maria Valley residents who died in the line of service from World War I to the present day.
While the monument won't be the site of a ceremony this year, it's still open to the public for individuals to visit.