San Jose native to lead Veterans Day Parade
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Garrett Yee — a San Jose native who served three tours of duty in the Middle East — will be the grand marshal of Sunday’s Veterans Day Parade in San Jose, the city’s 100th celebration of the armistice that ended World War I.
Yee calls it a “remarkable honor” to come home to represent both the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense in San Jose’s milestone event. The parade will start at noon at Highway 87 and West Santa Clara Street, following an 11 a.m. ceremony at Plaza de Cesar Chavez. The parade route runs east to Market Street and then south past the Tech Museum to San Carlos Street.
Born at San Jose Hospital, just blocks from the parade route he’ll be on Sunday, Yee, 53, lived with his grandparents in the city for a few years before moving to Fremont, where he graduated from Kennedy High School in 1983. But his San Jose roots run deep. His parents, Gilbert and Michiko, met and married at Wesley Methodist Church in San Jose’s Japantown. And while he graduated from Santa Clara University, his wife, Maria — another Kennedy High alum — went to San Jose State, as did Alissa, one of their three daughters.
“I am extremely proud to witness how the San Jose community continues to support our veterans,” said Yee, who has served as the military deputy to the Army chief information officer at the Pentagon since 2015. “Here in this community and all around the country, veterans serve as teachers, doctors, engineers, social workers, community leaders, first responders and even elected officials.”
Yee has actually been one of the elected officials, having served as a trustee on the Ohlone College board since 2003, but he has never been far from military service. Over the past 12 years, he’s been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. Yee said this particular parade day is especially important as it both
marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and provides a way to say thank you to veter- ans and their families.
“We are all in one family — those who have worn, still wear and support the uniform. And this parade is a remarkable way to honor all of those men and women who wore the uniform and served proudly,” Yee said. VETERANS’ TRIBUTE CONTINUES » Following San Jose’s parade on Sunday, Santana Row will again host Honor on the Row from 2 to 6 p.m. The outdoor shopping center will have a Gold Star Memorial to honor the fallen, a display of military vehicles and classic cars, and a care package collection booth. It’s free and open to the public. MEAN, GREEN AND COMING TO CAMPBELL » With “The Grinch” opening in theaters Friday, the title character will be making an appearance at Pruneyard Cinemas in Campbell on Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. The tormentor of Whoville from the Dr. Seuss classic will be available for photos with moviegoers and might even jump behind the bar at the Cedar Room to whip up some green cocktails.
Too soon for holiday shenanigans? Maybe, but at least it’s November.