WALKING STRONG
Veterans from various branches of the military march along Main Street in Watsonville at a previous Veterans Day walk of honor.
Tarmo Hannula
NOVEMBER 5 -11, 2021 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE
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SALUTE TO THE PROUD By ERIK CHALHOUB & TODD GUILD
Veterans Day ceremony returns after pandemic hiatus
W
atsonville’s Veterans Day Celebration returns to downtown after last year’s in-person event was cancelled due to Covid-19. Veterans and others will begin gathering at 9:30am on Nov. 11 in the parking lot of St. Patrick’s Church, 721 Main St. At 10am, the Chesty Puller Battalion, United States Naval Sea Cadets will lead the parade carrying
the Colors, followed by the veterans and then other parade participants. They will march down Main Street, turn left on East Beach Street and finish at the Henry J. Mello Center, 250 East Beach St. The program will take place inside the Mello Center at 11am with the ringing of the bell. During the ceremony, Tony Rojas and Rick Sanchez will be honored as Veterans of the Year. In addition to the
After the ceremony, the American Legion and Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez will be hosting a luncheon for all attendees. The luncheon will be hosted by volunteer students of Watsonville High in their newly remodeled cafeteria. Music during lunch will be performed by Jose Camacho and the Activities For All band. American Legion Commander Felipe Hernandez will be emcee of the luncheon.
