Veterans Day gives Gilroyans a way to honor those who served
Funds raised by Veterans Day Run go to nonprofits serving military vets
Local Vietnam veteran Eddie Bowers raises the American Flag during a previous Veterans Day ceremony. Photo courtesy Susan Brazelton
By Marty Cheek
Joe A. Loquiao served three years in the U.S. Army, including one tour of duty in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division. It’s important for him and other veterans to give Gilroy residents a way to honor every Nov. 11 those who served in the armed forces.
Loquiao is the commander of the American Legion Post 217, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6309. He also served as grand marshal of the 2019 Gilroy Memorial Day Parade. He helped organized this year’s Veterans Day commemoration, which will start 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, at the Veterans Memorial Building at 74 West Sixth St.
“I hope the community will join us in thanking the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces to preserve our freedom, liberty and way of life,” he said. “I hope the event will give Gilroyans a chance to celebrate and honor all veterans for their service and reflect on the freedoms they enjoy thanks to the Americans who have served our country.”
Morgan Hill architect Charles Weston is another Vietnam vet who knows what military veterans face in their service to America. He sees the needs these men and women face after returning to civilian life. To help fund programs that aid veterans, he started the annual Morgan Hill Veterans Run eight years ago.
This year’s 5K/10K Walk/Run will start at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, in the middle of East First Street in downtown Morgan Hill. Nonprofit organizations that will receive funding from the event as partners include Morgan Hill Freedom Fest, South Bay Blue Star Moms, Project Hired, DreamPower Horsemanship, Operation Freedom Paws, and 22 Too Many.
“These organizations have a hard time marketing themselves,” Weston said. “They have a hard time getting people to understand what they’re trying to accomplish.”
Fewer than one percent of Americans serve in the military. This number compares with about nine percent during World War II. Research has found this difference creates a divide between veterans and non-veterans.
“If you’re a veteran or your spouse is a veteran or you have children who are veterans, I think you understand what the process is to commit to three, four, five, ten years,” Weston said. “It’s hard for other people to understand that.”
Weston started the Veterans Day Run to give back to the men and women who served and help them with psychological and physical needs.
“I am a disabled veteran, too. I have a dog who is my service dog and I don’t go anywhere without my dog and it helps quite a bit,” he said. “And Operation Freedom Paws helps veterans with emotional needs via their pet . . . Blue Star Moms are really an interesting group, too. They’re essentially moms who have children in the service. And that really hits home for me because it was really difficult for my mom when I went to Vietnam.”
Another run partner is 22 Too Many, a group of runners dedicating their run to military members lost to suicide at an alarming and tragic rate of 22 per day. Its mission is to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress and share helpful resources available, serve as a living memorial to the 22 Too Many heroes — carrying their pictures and sharing their stories and provide comfort, encouragement, and support to the grieving loved ones left behind.
Based in the South Valley, DreamPower Horses for Warriors provides equine-facilitated psychotherapy and support services to U.S. military veterans and their families. Horses for Warriors offers weekly groups for Pre-9/11 veterans, Post-9/11 veterans, women veterans and a bi-weekly combat vet family support group.
Project Hired guides veteran job seekers with disabilities to find and sustain meaningful employment through an array of services designed to promote self-sufficiency and independence, remove barriers, create opportunities, and help participants build successful careers. All proceeds from the race will go to the various partner organizations.
“Run with these honorable men and women during the race and express your appreciation for their service as you finish the course with them,” Weston said. “We encourage participants to take a moment and say, ‘Thank you for what you’ve done!’ Small gestures mean a lot to those who have sacrificed so much.”