In Honor of the Fallen

Citizens of San Benito gathered Monday, May 28, to observe the city’s Memorial Day ceremony. The event began with a silent march from City Hall to the Veterans War Memorial and ended with the unveiling of a bronze statue at the memorial. Participating in the procession were members of the San Benito High School Naval Junior ROTC, who also performed the posting of colors, and area veterans. Speakers included Mayor Joe H. Hernandez, Enriqueta Ramos, and Victor Garza, chairman of the San Benito Veterans Advisory Board. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2410 also held a flag-folding ceremony while Rick Lugo performed the National Anthem, Amazing Grace, and God Bless America. The statue unveiled was inspired by a 1944 Coast Guard photo of a monument consisting of a rifle and soldier’s helmet that marked the area where an American soldier was killed on the beach of Normandy. The eight-foot statue was commissioned by the San Benito Veterans Advisory Board. (Photos by Jacob Lopez)