Veterans Day in Hollister once again included a beautiful set of
events attended by hundreds of San Benito County’s residents
showing their appreciation for local men and women who have served
our country.
Veterans Day in Hollister once again included a beautiful set of events attended by hundreds of San Benito County’s residents showing their appreciation for local men and women who have served our country.
It’s always a somber, sad and appreciative day, as local veterans groups hold a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Building before an afternoon parade along San Benito Street.
This year, a group of citizens abused their given right to free speech and stood near the crowd of citizens and their families, holding anti-war signs and making their already known beliefs known in one of the most inappropriate environments for such a showing.
Many veterans of the services have put their lives on the line so that expressive citizens can do just that, express themselves. But there’s always a time and a place. There’s always a certain level of focused respect we should expect as a proud, patriotic country – whether you agree with war or oppose it with every bone in your body – on that particular day.
And that expectation was crossed by the very picketers who have 364 other opportunities throughout the year to tell their neighbors, peers, coworkers and friends that they oppose the Iraq war. Americans certainly have the right to take that stance.
But that doesn’t excuse the interruptive, self-serving behavior they displayed outside the Veterans Memorial Building, where relatives of fallen soldiers wept, where patriotic citizens felt the near tangible chill when “Taps” played to honor those who have lost their lives in service, when hundreds of locals honored their dedication to country, as respectfully as they could.
On a day when veterans deserve nothing less than respect, they received just the opposite from one group, and that is a shame.
