Locals of all ages lined San Benito Street downtown Thursday
morning to celebrate Hollister’s third annual Veterans Day parade,
and stayed afterward for a special memorial ceremony at the Vets
building.
Hollister – Locals of all ages lined San Benito Street downtown Thursday morning to celebrate Hollister’s third annual Veterans Day parade, and stayed afterward for a special memorial ceremony at the Vets building.
The parade began at 10am, and local school bands, veterans’ organizations, and small floats made it through the route despite the threat of rain clouds overhead and a brief shower.
“It looks like the smiles on these kids’ faces may bring the sun out on this wonderful day,” said parade announcer Donna Heikens as the Rancho/Maze combined middle school bands marched past.
Heikens, the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, and Lauretta Avina, whose husband is currently serving in Iraq, were the co-announcers of Thursday’s parade.
Parade participants included several veterans of the war in Iraq riding in a 1985 Humvee, members of the San Benito High School ROTC program, a flag-waving Uncle Sam and Betsy Ross, and children from San Benito County 4-H riding in five golf carts they had decorated to look like tanks.
Bill and Judi Heikens, parents of Donna Heikens, said they came out from Montana to see their grandchildren and stayed for the parade.
“We’re so proud of our daughter, and we’re proud to be Americans. They did a great job with the parade,” Bill Heikens said.
Donna Heikens, who returned Wednesday night from a trip to Washington, D.C. where she met some of the men who fought with her father in Vietnam, said her trip gave special meaning to the day.
“If you’ve ever been to Washington, it’s so humbling, and it just makes you so proud to be an American,” Heikens said.
After the parade, spectators gathered outside the Veterans Building to wait for the memorial ceremony and share their thoughts on the parade.
“The parade was outstanding. After 9/11, they really needed this outlet,” said Vietnam veteran Ray Friend. “It’s nice to see these guys (Iraq veterans) welcomed home, because we weren’t necessarily so welcome (after Vietnam),” he said.
Families were a common sight along the parade route and in front of the Vets Building, and some parents tried to explain the significance of the day to their children.
Valerie Silva and her two young sons said this was their second year attending the parade.
“I’m trying to teach my kids about Veterans Day, and of course we came to see great-great-grandpa’s name,” Silva said, pointing out a name etched in the stone tile outside the building.
Silva’s two sons, Anthony, 9, and Wesley, 4, also seemed to be enjoying the parade. Anthony said it was “very musical,” and Wesley wriggled with excitement while holding his mother’s hand.
Petra Arevalo watched the parade wearing a T-shirt printed with son Dionicio’s picture and the words “My son, my hero.” She said she thought the parade was “very nice;” and that she had come out to support her son, who came back in April from serving in Iraq.
Dionicio Arevalo’s son, Dionicio III, was born on Sept. 11, 2003, while Arevalo was still in Iraq. Petra Arevalo brought along Dionicio’s small son and step-daughter dressed head-to-toe in full army fatigues to Thursday’s parade.
The festivities ended with a memorial ceremony on the front steps of the Vets Building, in which members of the local branch of the Veterans of Foreign Wars talked about the rights the men and women of the military are fighting for, and prayed for fallen soldiers.
“The whole thing was very nice. They really did a beautiful job,” said Friend. “The whole thing is very small-town, and that’s great.”
Jessica Quandt is a staff writer for the Free Lance. Reach her at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or at
jq*****@fr***********.com
.
