After I read the letter from Chuck Williams on Friday, the June
20 edition of the Free Lance, I started to think of another dirty
deal that was played on some veterans on Memorial Day.
Dear Editor:
After I read the letter from Chuck Williams on Friday, the June 20 edition of the Free Lance, I started to think of another dirty deal that was played on some veterans on Memorial Day.
I am a member of a long-standing brass band (25 years more or less) who has been called upon to perform for all those years at the varied cemeteries in San Benito County on Memorial Day and even on Armistice Day (Veterans’ Day) when those days were to be celebrated.
We were always on hand, rain or shine, and we performed military service marches and bugle salutes as asked for, such as “Taps” with echoes plus a march-in selection and a march-out selection and the National Anthem. These were all performed by members of the Brass Band which had principally veterans doing the honors.
I am a veteran. I served in World War II with the 88th United States Infantry Division in Northern Italy and I also served in the Korean Conflict with the 7th United States Infantry Division.
When I was told, on Memorial Day at the Calvary Cemetery, that the powers that be, did not want us to go to the Veterans Memorial Building (because they had the high school band there) and we were not wanted, I was about as disgusted as I was when in 1952 President Truman extended my enlistment for a few extra months. So, I wrote a letter to the City of Hollister and expressed my disgust with the whole idea. My letter was answered by a member of the Engineering Department, and he said that they had nothing to do with the preparations for that program, and that perhaps someone from whatever branch of city government would also get back to me.
Well, guess what? No one has to date responded to my letter, and I really don’t think they will. I am pretty much disgusted with the whole idea of having spent 25 or more years helping the local VFW and the American Legionnaires with our playing for their programs and being told we were not wanted at the building’s ceremony.
I’m glad I didn’t go. I don’t plan to ever go again. Let the high school band go to all the cemeteries and do the same as we have for years and years. I wonder who they think will volunteer the way we have for all those years?
I was an enlistee, not a draftee, and I am still proud of my military service with all my medals and my recollections of those years.
I am neither a member of VFW or the American Legion, but I am a disgruntled veteran. Thanks to you Chuck, I agree. The Veterans Memorial Building should be for veterans.
Roland L. Perkins,
Hollister
