MARKING NEW AND OLD TRADITIONS
Hundreds of families gathered in downtown San Jose Saturday for the city’s annual Veterans Day parade
SAN JOSE »
Each year on Nov. 11, Omar and Veronica Hernandez and their two young daughters find a spot along the edge of Plaza César Chávez, where they wait two hours for the start of the annual Veterans Day Parade.
Not only is the 7-year-old family tradition a way for the couple to honor their loved ones who are military veterans, but the parade also falls on their daughter Layla’s birthday. She turned 8 on Saturday.
Veronica Hernandez, 36, whose grandfather served in World War II, said the parade brings out the best in San Jose.
“It comes down to tradition,” said the stay-at-home mom. “It’s still family first and tradition first and letting our daughters know that we’re here to support our servicemen and women.”
Added 35-year-old Omar Hernandez, an inventory tech for IBM: “They’re trying to make the world a better place. We’re just trying to give it right back to them and pay it forward.”
Several thousand people gathered in downtown San Jose Saturday for the Veterans Day parade presented by the United Veterans Council of Santa Clara County, marking the 99th anniversary of Armistice Day.
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Celebrated on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Armistice Day — also known as “Remembrance Day” — signified the end of World War I in 1918. President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day in 1954.
“For all of our veterans who served, regardless of what uniform your wore — Marines, Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard — this is your day and it’s a day to celebrate,” said speaker Scott Huesing, a retired U.S. Marine Corps Infantry Major. “You should be proud of everything you did, whether you turned a wrench on a truck, whether you supported us from the air or whether you squeezed the trigger on a rifle. You all should be justifiably proud of your service.”
The United Veterans Council has held an Armistice Day celebration and Veterans Day parade annually since its founding in 1922 with support from the city of San Jose and Santa Clara County.
On Saturday, dignitaries and local politicians used the parade as a platform to address the many issues affecting military veterans — in particular, homelessness.
An estimated 891 formerly homeless veterans in Santa Clara County have been placed in permanent homes in the last two years as part of the “All the Way Home” campaign sponsored by the city of San Jose, Santa Clara County, the Santa Clara County Housing Authority and Destination: Home. An additional 76 veterans with VA vouchers are currently looking for housing, according to Dave Cortese, president of the county Board of Supervisors. An estimated 660 veterans in the region remain homeless.
“We’re going to fight as hard as we possibly can because the idea that when we go home to our homes that people who step forward to serve us are on the street is completely unacceptable,” said Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, a San Jose Democrat.
For first-timers Jim and Arpenny Hart, the parade marked the start of something new — something big. Their 18-year-old son, Christopher, a few weeks ago graduated from Army boot camp in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
“For the first time we’re waking up to this idea that we are now a military family by relation,” said Jim Hart,” a 51-year-old construction project manager from Mountain View. “We decided to come down to honor the decision that he’s made and see just what this new next phase of life is going to be like for us.”
Added Arpenny Hart, 52, a children’s ministry director at Palo Alto Vineyard Church: “We wanted to be able to honor people who have made that kind of sacrifice. It’s become a lot closer to home for us.”
Retired Navy Rear Admiral William W. Copeland Jr. served as the parade’s grand marshal. Copeland retired from the U.S. Navy in 2000 after serving as Commander of the Theodore Roosevelt Battlegroup, according to the Veterans Council. He has flown over 300 combat missions with more than 1,300 carrier landings and more than 5,000 flight hours in 30 different types of aircraft.
Copeland’s accolades include the Silver Star for gallantry in action, the Bronze Star; two Defense Superior Service medals and three Legion of Merit awards.