HOLLISTER
Locals gathered at Hollister’s Veterans Memorial Building on Friday to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor – and to treat themselves to some tasty food.
Along with the American Legion’s motorcycle rally breakfast in July, the annual Pearl Harbor Day barbecue is one of the local legion post’s big events. Money from the food sales will go toward legion-sponsored scholarships, but Legion Vice Commander Dave Arnold said the event is more about remembering an important day in history than raising funds.
“It’s not about making money,” he said. “At least, I don’t view it that way and I don’t think anybody else does.”
Arnold, 72, said everyone in his generation remembers Pearl Harbor Day, in the same way younger people are likely to remember Sept. 11, 2001.
“It’s what brought us into the international arena,” he said.
The attack, which prompted the United States’ entry into World War II, had an effect on San Benito County, said 83-year-old Lolita Balambao Pinuela, who was living in San Juan Bautista at the time. She recalled that one of her Japanese high school classmates was sent to an internment camp, and as a half-Japanese, half-Filipino, Pinuela said she faced some harsh treatment as well.
“I’d thought I would not be counted as one of the so-called enemies, but there were some hurtful remarks,” she said. “I didn’t have anything to do with (the attacks).”
Pinuela said much of her family ended up joining the U.S. military during the war. She enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps and served all over the United States, including working as a dental technician in San Francisco’s Presidio.
“I was proud to serve my country,” said Pinuela, who has also served as commander of the local legion post.
Legion District Commander Richard Wagoner said some of the funds raised Friday will pay for the prize in an upcoming oratorical contest. Only two people in San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties participated last year, so Wagoner said he’s hoping more people sign up in January. For more information, visit www.legion.org.
