A decision to exclude politics from the annual Veterans Day
Parade has some in the San Benito County Republican Women Federated
group feeling left out.
Hollister – A decision to exclude politics from the annual Veterans Day Parade has some in the San Benito County Republican Women Federated group feeling left out.
Complaints about the display of political symbols, such as a cardboard cut-out of President George W. Bush, in past parades prompted organizers to exclude all political groups from participating in this year’s parade, according to founder and coordinator Richard Herrera, Jr.
“We believe it’s in the best interest of local veterans and this community if we keep politics out of Veterans Day and the Veterans Day Parade,” he said. “As such, we made a policy decision to exclude political organizations or any groups we perceive as controversial.”
Based on the new rule – which, according to Herrera, has not been contested by other political groups – an application by the Republican Women Federated to drive an army Humvee in the parade was rejected. The Humvee, which was to be driven by an active-duty soldier, would have displayed the name of the Republican organization as well as signs in support of U.S. troops and veterans, according to Sally Bettencourt, vice president of the Republican Women Federated.
“We wanted to put out a positive image that Republican women are in support of the military – past and present,” she said. “We are a civic organization, just like the Lyons Club and the Rotary Club.”
Herrera said he did offer the group a compromise: to let the soldier drive the Humvee in the parade, but without any affiliation to the Republican Women Federated.
Bettencourt said that she didn’t know if her group would accept the compromise or take some other action.
“This is going to go before the whole club,” she said. “The executive board of the club wants to get a consensus before it decides what action, if any, it will take,” adding that the 60-member club might hold a special meeting soon to decide on its next move.
The parade, which is held on Nov. 11, was founded by Herrera in 2002. Before that time, the county had gone without a veterans parade for more than five decades.
Veterans Coalition member Jesse Garza, Jr. said he thinks the parade shouldn’t be politicized.
“We just hope the controversy ends,” he said. “It’s a patriotic parade, that’s all. Red, white and blue, that’s all.”
Luke Roney covers local politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lr****@fr***********.com
