WATSONVILLE – Residents filled the Henry J. Mello Center at Watsonville High School to honor local veterans in person for the first time in two years Thursday morning.
The day began with a parade to kick off Veterans Day. Everyone then filed inside the Mello Center for the ceremony, which began at 11 a.m. with the ringing of the bell by Staff Sgt. Michael Baker, a Watsonville High graduate who served in Vietnam.
Veterans Day is always celebrated on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to honor the peace agreements that ended World War I, Lt. Col. Harry Wiggins, a Vietnam veteran, said.
Several local government leaders were present to honor Watsonville veterans including Mayor Jimmy Dutra, County Supervisor Greg Caput who is an Army veteran and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA 20th District) who is a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
“Because of you, you have given people like me the opportunity to lead my community and communities across this country,” Dutra said. “Your sacrifice has been much greater in creating and paving the way for people like myself.”
During the ceremony, local leaders took the time to honor two specific veterans. Airman 2nd Class Antonio Rojas with the VFW post 1716 in Watsonville and Lance Corporal Rick Sanchez of the America Legion Post 121 in Watsonville not received special honors and rewards.
Amongst the crowd was a single World War II veteran, a number that has dwindled more and more every year. Event organizers took the time to honor him as one of the few remaining WWII veterans.
“It means a lot,” Baker said of having even one WWII veteran in attendance.
Baker continued to talk about the level of camaraderie he feels with WWII veterans despite having served in the military more than a quarter-century later.
“I was sitting with the oldest one, we were having a lunch they provided for us,” Baker explained. “He was 100 years old, and he said all his friends had died. I said, ‘I’ll be your friend. You have got to keep making more friends.’ Life goes on.”
While many Americans take Veterans Day as an opportunity to celebrate American service members for their sacrifice and show their appreciation, veterans see the holiday differently. Many former and current military members see the celebration as a moment of camaraderie among the different military branches.
No matter the difference in experiences, wars fought in, branches served or age gaps, veterans all share one thing in common and Veterans Day is a moment for them to celebrate that similarity.
“It’s the comrade-ship. People who are veterans, they can just meet somewhere at the line in the post office or something and you have a shared experience,” said David Kimball, a Specialist 4th Class who served in Vietnam. “That’s one of the good things. It’s a community and around here it’s appreciated.”
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