Annual BBQ in Santa Maria gives back to veterans and their families

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – It's an annual Veterans Day tradition in Santa Maria. The Santa Maria Police Department Color Guard was on hand for the raising of the flag ceremony at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge.

There was even a helicopter flyover for the event which saw a huge turnout.

More than a thousand pounds of tri-tip was barbecued by Elks Lodge volunteers who started cooking and preparing early Thursday morning.

Some 2,000 sandwich meals were handed out to veterans and their families over several hours. Members of the public who made a $5 donation also received a sack lunch.

The annual veterans day free barbecue is sponsored by Santa Maria attorney Michael Clayton.

Clayton said people should thank a veteran in passing for their service.

"Reach out to a veteran when you see them and say, 'you know what, thank you for your service,' just in passing, say thank you," Clayton said. "That would mean a whole lot to a veteran."

Clayton said his southern roots makes a barbecue the perfect way to give back veterans and their families.

"By doing this barbecue – I'm from the south and we do food, we do barbecues – and so why not do a barbecue here and say, 'come on over,'" Clayton said.

The Santa Maria Veterans Day free barbeque lunch was done in drive-thru fashion at the Elks Lodge due to ongoing public health restrictions.