Veterans honor fallen comrades at Memorial Day ceremony

Pictured are various scenes from Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony held at the new Veterams War Memorial downtown San Benito, in which special guests and local dignitaries participated, as well as area veterans and families. (Staff photos by Francisco E. Jimenez)

By CRISTINA M. GARCIA
Special to the NEWS

Veterans from San Benito and surrounding areas gathered on Monday, Memorial Day in front of City Hall for the 10th annual silent march.

The armed services veterans, along with the San Benito Police Department and San Benito High School’s Naval Junior ROTC, faced south with a sense of unity and without a word spoken to honor those who were Killed in Action (KIA) and Missing in Action (MIA). Family members held photographs of loved ones they lost to war.

Succeeding the silent march, the veterans and guests gathered at the Veterans War Memorial site. The veterans then saluted their flag as local songbird Madelyn Vallejo sung the Star Spangled Banner. Veteran Charlie Wilson recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag. A member from the Catholic War Veterans, Manuel Deacon Sanchez, then gave the invocation. “Guide those in trouble” Sanchez said.

Mayor Joe H. Hernandez welcomed the veterans. “Today I salute each and every one of you in the armed forces,” Hernandez said.

Special Guest Jeff Milligan from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs spoke about the services the VA offers for our veterans. “I hope we are building a system where you (veterans) can receive the mental and physical assistance you need.” Milligan said.

“Love of a Soldier”, an original song by Madelyn Vallejo was performed. “It’ll take time before you realize it’s going to hurt, then you’ll see all the sacrifice it takes and what it’s worth, the love of a soldier,” Vallejo sung before veterans commended her performance.

Names of local military KIA or MIA were then recognized. Catholic War Veterans and Hernandez, to honor those who were KIA or MIA, placed a red wreath donated by the Catholic War Veterans at the Veterans War Memorial, the site of the ceremonial portion of the Memorial Day event.

Echoing trumpets were then heard in the background as Rudy Gonzalez, a San Benito CISD band director and student Joseph Garza played Taps. Victor Garza, Master of Ceremonies, then made closing statements. “Let us remember …let us not forget,” Garza said.

Everyone then dispersed, but a few veterans stayed to socialize with their fellow comrades. Estevan Villarreal, a Korean War Veteran, said most of the Korean War veterans KIA went to school with him. “I came here to see the new Veterans Memorial. I think it’s great and beautiful,” Villarreal said, further noting that he supports modern day soldiers coming out of the military.

Jose Garcia, also from San Benito, served in the Army and is a Vietnam Veteran. Garcia was wounded at war and lost all eleven of his men, and came to honor them. “In Vietnam, 14 boys from San Benito died – the most in the Valley. It hurts, but it’s necessary. We must never forget who those boys were and always remember them,” Garcia said.

Garcia also stated that freedom has a flavor. “Those who went to war have a different flavor than those who never did,” Garcia said, adding he had previously attended ceremonies hosted by the city. “I’m very proud of the City of San Benito for being able to see in the future and being able to come up with a vision with a place like this to honor our fallen heroes,” Garcia said.