During Tuesday’s Veterans Day ceremony in Hollister, American Legion Post 69 Commander Joe Love pointed to the standing room-only crowd in attendance and recalled a sparser audience just a few years ago.
“Three years ago we couldn’t fill 300 chairs in the middle,” Love said of the overflow crowd, with some locals listening from outside the main hall. “Now there’s not an empty seat. There are people standing. I guess the veterans have to look at their finances to find a couple hundred more chairs.”
Love was among speakers at the annual 11:11 a.m. ceremony to honor veterans. It was inside the Veterans Memorial Building on Tuesday, while organizers believe it may have been the biggest crowd yet for the event.
There were speakers such as Sonora Vasquez, who grew up in San Juan Bautista. She is an active member of the Air Force while stationed in Monterey and was named one of three local veterans of the year by the League of United Latin American Citizens in San Benito County.
“It’s been a privilege for me to serve my local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and an honor to be elected an officer,” Vasquez said.
Miss California, Marina Inserra, spoke during the ceremony and mentioned growing up as a “military brat” with her father being a U.S. Marine. She recalled as a child getting trinkets from her dad wherever he was stationed, such as Japan at one point.
“It’s not just the men and women that serve our country,” she said. “It’s also their families. I really want to thank the families of all the men and women that serve our country.”
Newly reelected Mayor Ignacio Velazquez opened by jokingly thanking organizers for seating him next to Inserra.
“When they come back,” he said of veterans, “here’s what I ask from all of you. When they come to your business or your shop asking for a job, hire them. They deserve that.”
Velazquez mentioned hearing an idea on the radio Tuesday to give all veterans an off day from work. He agreed with it.
“Every veteran should have the day off and get paid for it,” he said.
Hollister Police Chief David Westrick told the crowd he can’t think of anything better than thanking a veteran. Westrick is following up on a similar effort from last year and is working with Hollister Gives Back on a Christmas card drive for active soldiers. Last year, the local participants sent more than 21,000 cards to injured service members.
Westrick stressed the importance of showing gratitude to veterans.
“Before you leave today, I want you to thank one of these men and women for what they’ve done for you personally,” he said.
