Local Cancer Survivor is Named Grand Marshal in SFV Veterans Day Parade

For Edward Landin and approximately 700 other United States veterans in and around the valley, Monday, Nov. 11, was a special day for them and their families. Landin had the honor this year of being the grand marshal of the San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade – an event held since 2004.

Landin, a Vietnam veteran has been a part of the parade since its inception, but never expected to be its grand marshal. Fred Flores, who founded the parade, asked him about two months ago if he would take that role, a gesture he was honored to accept.

“I was kind of shocked, but I’m more than happy to fulfill that role. If more people came because of me, that’s even better,” Landin joked.

Born and raised in the City of San Fernando, Landin was drafted into the U.S. Army in March 1971, serving in the infantry as a specialist from August to April 1972. He was then sent to Fort Hood, now known as Fort Cavazos, in Texas until March 1973 when he was honorably discharged.

Landin noted a common pain for Vietnam veterans is that they didn’t receive a warm reception from the public that others did from other wars. The Vietnam War was deeply unpopular, as anti-war protests occurred all over the country as the number of casualties grew.

The parade is a way for them and those who never returned home, including his sergeant, to receive recognition for their service.

“A lot of local guys in the area were killed in action,” he said. “That’s another [reason] why I like to acknowledge Veterans Day – because of them. There’s like [58,000] veterans that were killed in Vietnam, and I’m doing it for them. I’m honoring them.”

Despite the immense public outcry against the war and the stigmas Vietnam veterans experienced, Landin reflected on the moments of light during his service. He recalled the day when he very unexpectedly ran across a friend in his same compound who had also been drafted. The two are still friends to this day. Landid also considers himself “lucky enough” to have attended a Bob Hope show for the troops – although he had to go back into the field that very same night.

When Landin returned to the U.S., he was given only about 30 days with his family before he was stationed in Texas.

When his service was concluded, Landin recalled the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was not nearly as friendly as it is now. The VA could deny a veteran’s claim and not allow them to appeal. He also knows Vietnam veterans who, for whatever reason, had no paperwork to show that they had served and had an uphill battle just to receive benefits.

Since his service, Landin has been actively participating in the community. He volunteers for the Knights of Columbus Council 3016 and is a member of American Legion 176. Landin has a tax business in Pacoima – Munoz Income Tax – which he’s operated with his brothers for approximately 37 years. He’s also worked at the VA for about 27 years.

Landin put together a golf group of veterans that have been going strong for about 10 years, which has been a source of therapy for him.

However, Landin’s life took a turn last year. He felt sick, and he had lost weight and his appetite. It was about a week after the 2023 parade when he received his diagnosis: pancreatic cancer.

It wasn’t too long afterward that he began his chemotherapy treatment.

“In May of this year, I had surgery. They call it the Whipple procedure, where they go in and take out half of my intestines, half of my stomach, some of my prostate and then they sewed me back up,” Landin explained. “I continued chemo and then I had radiation. I just finished 28 rounds of radiation.”

Fortunately, nearly a year of treatments paid off, and Landin beat the cancer in August and concluded treatment in October. He’s still recuperating from the physical toll the treatments took on him but he was well enough to ride in the parade as the grand marshal.

“The support of the community has given Ed back a lot of what he’s poured out into the community,” Barbara Landin, his wife, said. “We had visits to our doorstep from the LAPD [and] the sheriffs who have all come to [offer] good wishes to my husband. … He’s done something in his life that they have recognized him for [during] this little hardship.

“We had so many people that called him to congratulate him and say they were going to the parade this year, and we’re so happy because he’s been pushing this parade since day one,” she continued. “There’s a lot of good here, and to be able to stand by him as he’s proudly honored as grand marshal – it’s a big thing.”

Edward Landin is thankful not only for the support but to Flores – a Marine vet himself – for having the parade in the first place, saying, “He’s just a person … running the parade on a shoestring budget. I’ve helped him as much as I can, putting the word out there, trying to raise funds as well. And I just want to commemorate and acknowledge him.”

A 21-Year-Long Tradition

The work put in by Flores and parade organizers certainly wasn’t in vain this year. Hundreds of veterans riding in vehicles – ranging from trucks and classic cars to motorcycles and a double-decker bus – traveled down Laurel Canyon Boulevard from San Fernando Mission Boulevard to Paxton Street.

Hundreds of spectators lined the street, waving the U.S. flag as the veterans passed by. Some were the families of the vets, cheering for their loved ones. 

About a block away from the starting point, on Brand Boulevard, several dignitaries gave opening remarks before the parade started, including Congressman Tony Cárdenas, State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, LA City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez and City of San Fernando Councilmember Victoria Garcia.

The Condor Squadron was missing this year for the usual 11:11 a.m. flyover, as they chose to go to Pasadena instead – making this year’s parade the first without a flyover.

This was the 21st time Flores organized the event, starting in 2004 with encouragement from his eldest son – who was tragically killed in 2009. Today, the San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade is the largest in the city of LA.

“This is my passion, to honor those who have served, and I love seeing the faces of the veterans that come out, especially those Vietnam vets,” Flores said. “They’re loving it. They’re smiling, playing their music and they’re having fun out here in the community. I love seeing that. They’re not sitting somewhere drinking or … using drugs.”

Out of approximately 700 veterans in the parade this year, Flores estimates that close to 300 served in Vietnam. He added that the number of participating vets who served in Afghanistan and Iraq is increasing, while World War II and Korean vets are dwindling.

Flores said that the largest number of vets participating in this parade was at least a thousand when it was held on a weekend. He explained that economics also played a part in this year’s numbers as, despite the holiday, some vets had to work and couldn’t afford to take the day off.

Regardless, Flores said the parade will continue to be held on any day of the week that Veterans Day happens to fall on. He added seeing families participate in the parade helps motivate others to do the same. Additionally, Fred said this was the first time immediate family members could ride with veterans, which will be the standard going forward.

“Families with veterans bring out other families,” Flores said. 

Each year, families line the streets along the parade route on Laurel Canyon Boulevard waving small American flags, cheering and holding handmade posters with the names and photos of their family members who’ve served.

“They want to come out and participate for their loved ones in this parade, watching them get honored,” said Flores.