Culver City Observer -

On Veterans Day, 500 flags surrounded the borders of Veterans Memorial Park in Culver City. On each flag was a yellow ribbon listin the names of veterans and first responders who served the country as part of the first Tribute to Heros – Field of Valor. The event raised around $25,000 for homeless veterans.

The flags were sponsored by residents, businesses and local organizations including the Exchange Club of Culver City and the Culver City Chamber of Commerce.

The event recognized the following retired servicemen as co-chairs , Earl Eskridge, United States Navy; Ken Owens, United States Army, Jim Clarke, United States Coast Guard; Marcus Tiggs, United States Army; Daniel Lee, United States Air Force and Air National Guard.

Observer staff photo

Each Flag contained the name of a veteran or first responder provided by the donor who purchased the flag.

Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells spoke told the crowd that homelessness was a "humanitarian crisis."

The money from each flag will be donated to nonprofit New Directions (ND Vets). They connect homeless veterans with services. In 2018, over 38,000 veterans experienced homelessness in the United States.

"Founded by two formerly homeless Vietnam veterans and a local advocate for homeless persons, ND Vets initially operated out of a five-bedroom home serving eight homeless Vietnam War veterans. They now operate 2 Transitional Housing Programs for veterans on the street in need of housing and 6 Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) facilities in Los Angeles County, along with 6 additional sites that will finish construction by 2020," according to the Culver City Chamber of Commerce.