Community: Gilroy vets bring back the tradition of a downtown Veterans Day Parade

Veterans art exhibit held at gallery until Nov. 30

By Marty Cheek

Hundreds of Gilroy residents gathered downtown Nov. 11 to bring back after decades the tradition of a Veterans Day Parade.

Honoring South Valley’s men and women who served in the military, 32 parade entries included high school marching bands, a Gilroy Girl Scouts troop, and a number of decorated floats driven by pick-up trucks. The parade’s theme was “Remember Everyone Deployed and All Who Served” and people wore red T-shirts with the motto. Many military families have a tradition of wearing red on Fridays to show support for their military family members.

The downtown parade returns after many years, said Genny Flores, a volunteer on the six-person committee that organized the event..

“While I’m not old enough to remember, the Vietnam era veterans tell me the National Guard used to put on a Veterans Day Parade in the late 1960s, early 1970s,” she said. “It was mostly military vehicles and it traveled down Eigleberry Street.”

Parade highlights included the Jace Hider family float recreating the famous Iwo Jima image of marines holding up the flag and various veterans riding in red-white-and-blue decorated horseless carriages provided by the South Valley Model T Ford Club. World War II veteran Robert Peterson, who served as the grand marshal, rode proudly in the passenger seat of Tim Edes’ antique Jeep from that era, waving to the crowds’ cheering.

“Gilroy has only a handful of veterans from the Greatest Generation still alive and Robert was able to represent them in all his glory,” Flores said. “It’s important for the community to celebrate and honor our veterans because without their sacrifice we would not be able to enjoy all the freedoms we have today. Having a parade to recognize them is the very least we can do for all they’ve done for our country.”

Many children and teens participated in the parade or watched from the side as the units passed, allowing young people to personally relate to our veterans and see them more than what films and other media might show, she said.

“Veterans are our neighbors. They live and work throughout our community,” Flores said. “By meeting veterans in person, it shows children that everyone can be a hero. Having children attend and/or participate in the parade is a great way to show them the value of service to our community and country, whether it be in the military, politics or by volunteering for a non-profit they are passionate about.”

The local veterans hope this year’s Veterans Day Parade helps return the holiday’s tradition to Gilroy, she said.

“We know there is room for improvement and we are already hard at work to make next year’s parade even better, more entertaining and filled with even more veterans,” she said. ““Parades are a way of sharing traditions and values with the next generation. With all the flag waving, saluting and cheering, it was evident Gilroyans respect our veterans.”

Other activities took place including the Veterans Day ceremony at Vets Hall and a month-long veterans art exhibit for the Third Friday Art Walk hosted by Sixth Street Studios & Art Center.