There are more than 3,000 veterans in San Benito County, and
Richard Herrera Jr. is hoping to locate them to put their names on
a master information list.
There are more than 3,000 veterans in San Benito County, and Richard Herrera Jr. is hoping to locate them to put their names on a master information list.
Herrera, founder and director of the newly formed San Benito County Veterans Coalition, said veterans move around a lot, making it difficult to keep a list current – and he’s building his from scratch.
“Right now, I’m depending on the word of mouth to achieve this task,” he said. “I’m sure you may know at least one veteran you can contact for us.”
The Veterans Coalition is comprised of the same members of American Legion Post 69 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9242. Herrera said the Veterans Coalition serves as an umbrella organization.
“We’re working with VFW Commander Charlie Scott and Robert Gonzales of the American Legion Post,” he said. “One reason we’re doing this is to help veterans learn about each other and to know one another.”
Herrera, who served in the Persian Gulf War in 1991, said now that another Middle East war has begun it’s more important than ever for veterans to be in contact with each other.
“Soldiers need that support from the people in the homeland because you want your soldiers to be focused at the task at hand,” he said. “This war is about good and evil. We’re still the good guys.”
The goal is to help veterans be aware of what they can do in the community and how to participate in local events. Also, Herrera said information that will benefit veterans will soon be available on the coalition’s Web site, which should be ready sometime in May or June.
“We’re hoping to tie the Web site in around the same time of the dedication of the Veterans’ Memorial Building,” he said.
Herrera is planning a kickoff/open house for the Veterans Day parade and will invite all veterans as well as residents to participate.
“We think it’s a good idea for the families of these servicemen and women to get to know each other during the next few months,” he said.
Herrera is encouraging parents with children in the military or anyone who may know of a veteran living in the county to contact him at (831) 801-7424 or by e-mail at [email protected].
