American Legion Post 69 Commander Joe Love on Friday recalled his own service to the country decades ago in the Army and Air Force, and remembered asking himself at times, “Why am I beating myself up like this?”
Eventually it became clear. It was for the “love of my country – and my flag.”
Love was among the speakers at the annual Veterans Day ceremony held at the Veterans Memorial Building in Hollister.
“I will be forever indebted to my fellow veterans,” he told the crowd, many veterans themselves.
This year with the rain, the ceremony was moved inside the iconic building as opposed to taking place in the courtyard. Local residents once again showed immense support for veterans, packing the seats set up inside the building.
That ceremony included involvement from the Rancho-Maze Band and students from Sacred Heart who performed as well. There was a special award presented to the Hollister Airmen’s Association. And one participant even showed her support for the troops by attempting a set of one-arm pushups, in what she called a year-long effort to show her dedication to veterans.
As is tradition, that ceremony at 11:11 a.m. was followed in the afternoon by Hollister’s Veterans Day Parade along San Benito Street.
Look back for more and additional photos, and see the Free Lance on Tuesday for full coverage.
