Cerritos Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama opened the city’s Veterans Day ceremony by welcoming attendees and thanking those who have served, saying, "To our military veterans and their families, thank you for your service." The event included remarks from visiting officials, musical performances, and a formal recognition of a meritorious service member.

At the ceremony an unnamed U.S. representative praised veterans and reflected on personal service, telling the audience, "For me, joining the army was the single most important decision I've ever made in my life," and saying that that commitment informs their work in Congress. The county assessor (unnamed) described local support for veterans, noting that as assessor they "have the privilege of serving veterans every day through the programs that provide property tax relief" and framed those programs as a way for local government to offer thanks in action.

Mayor Yokoyama presented a city proclamation honoring Lance Corporal Connor T. Madsen for his service in the United States Marine Corps. The proclamation summarized Madsen’s record: he enlisted in September 2022, completed recruit training in San Diego and follow-on training at Camp Pendleton and Marine Corps Engineer School at Camp Lejeune, graduated as an honor graduate in June 2023 and was promoted to lance corporal in November 2023. The mayor said the city recognized Madsen for "high standards, work ethic, and performance in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps."

Members of the Southern California chapter of Quilts of Valor presented Madsen with a Quilt of Valor. A chapter representative said the quilt was made "with love and grateful hearts," and named quilt makers Kathy Lansdell, Brandy Wood Eiler, and Shirley Matthews. A representative of the Ballet Christian Madrigals thanked the city for the opportunity to perform, and the mayor invited members of the First Combat Engineer Battalion adoption committee to lay a wreath at the Veterans Memorial. A veteran speaker offered a personal account of combat service and described actions by Lieutenant Colonel Carrazzo (call sign "Gunfighter") that "kept his fellow marines alive."

The mayor closed the ceremony by thanking honorees, performers and guests and asking the community to carry forward a renewed commitment to the ideals veterans defended. No formal votes or policy actions were taken during the event.