Memories of family and friends brought tears
By Betsy Avelar Staff Writer
Gilroy – Monica Perez wiped the tears from her eyes as she silently listened to the “Taps” melody played by bugler Al Mosso, at the Veterans Memorial Hall Saturday morning.
The 30-year-old Gilroy native stood along side her mother waiting for her father Gabe Perez, 57, and veteran of the Vietnam war, to march into the hall with the rest of the squad that performed the 21-gun salute for the Veterans Day Ceremony.
“I feel very honored and very blessed,” she said. “There’s some sense of togetherness, to have those that served this country here.”
The event was not celebrated at Christmas Hill park where it was originally planned to take place because of rainy weather, but more than 100 people gathered at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall on Sixth and Eigleberry streets to honor their friends and family members despite the last minute change.
Though there is no written history of the Veterans of Foreign War post 6301, local historian Wayne Cegelske and emcee of the event recalls 15 to 20 years of celebrating this event.
Event organizer Jesse Sanchez, commander of VFW post 6309, has participated in the event for years, but his wishes are that the youth become aware of the sacrifices the veterans have endured for them.
“It’s something that I believe we need to get the younger generation to keep going and remember that these veterans were willing to give their lives for our freedom,” said the 52-year-old.
Sanchez included the younger generation in the ceremony, but first the VFW color guard presented the colors to start the program. The Girl and Boy Scouts led in the pledge of allegiance followed by “America the beautiful”, by the “Side by Siders”, a group of ladies who sing patriotic songs. Rhonda Chantler sang the national anthem and the Gilroy High School band played “God Bless America.”
Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage and Gilroy Mayor Al Pinheiro spoke at the event, followed by the 21-gun salute and “Taps.” The mayor expressed his gratitude to the veterans of the community during his speech and to the event organizers for bringing the community together.
“Reflect not just today on what the veterans have done, but throughout the year,” Pinheiro said. This view was one that many veterans shared including Gabe Perez. He feels that the veterans should be honored more often, and not just twice a year.
“It seems to be a low rate system,” said Perez, who recalled the poor treatment Vietnam war veterans received upon their return.
The local VFW Post was named after John A. Berri, the first Gilroyan killed in WWII, but this is not the only post that exists in Gilroy. American Legion Post 217 and American Legion 669 came together and experienced a morning of honor and recognition.
Some attended the event to remember those who died.
“I am here more for personal reasons,” said Gordon Lepper, 79, a Korean War Veteran whose father and uncle served in WWI. “My father suffered greatly and he was never totally well, but he managed to support his family.” Lepper’s father never fully recovered from the wounds he suffered in WWI and eventually died as a result. With Lepper was his wife Betty, whose uncle died in WWI. She also had a brother who served in South Pacific as well as another brother who served in Germany during the war.
“We need to honor those men and women who placed themselves in harms way,” she said. “It’s hard to watch those who are dying in the present war and not understand how tragic it is.”
For Betty and Gordon Lepper, it was difficult to talk about the people who fought and died in the war.
But one thing was clear. They, like Monica Perez, still recognize and appreciate the sacrifices that these men and women made.
