GILROY
– A three-day weekend. A chance for family outings. A community
event. A time to commemorate soldiers who have given their lives in
service. A moment to reflect on the sacrifices of those still in
Iraq.
GILROY – A three-day weekend. A chance for family outings. A community event. A time to commemorate soldiers who have given their lives in service. A moment to reflect on the sacrifices of those still in Iraq.
Monday’s Memorial Day celebrations encompassed all these things to the throngs of Gilroyans and residents of nearby communities who participated in the day’s remembrance ceremony, parade and Christmas Hill Park festivities.
Kicking off with a solemn ceremony at St. Mary Cemetery at 9 a.m., nearly 150 people gathered to hear Mayor Al Pinheiro, Supervisor Don Gage, State Assemblyman Simon Salinas, Grand Marshal Jenny Belcher and others speak. Designated “The Year of the Woman” by organizers, this year’s celebration was a nod to the participation of women in the military.
“Without the women, we would not be where we are today,” said Wayne Cegelske, the master of ceremonies.
Gage also pointed out the value of women’s efforts.
“It’s about time they started recognizing women in the military,” he said. “They serve and do the same job that men do, but they don’t get the same recognition that men do.”
Veteran and featured speaker Linda Hall addressed the contributions of women and also highlighted the sacrifices of U.S. soldiers previously and currently in Iraq. As a volunteer counselor, she recounted a session with a soldier who had recently returned.
“It is because of you that I am safe in the homeland,” she recalled telling him.
The mood changed from somber to cheery as the day warmed up and the parade began at 11 a.m.
People lined up on sidewalks to watch more than 90 entries walk, march, trot and roll their way along 10th Street.
Participants included parade favorites like the CALSTAR helicopter, P-51 World War II fighter planes and many more.
“We have everything,” City Council member and parade organizer Craig Gartman said.
There were kids, horses, Ford Explorer limousines, mothers pushing strollers, fire engines, floats and vintage T-birds and Jaguars. In true parade fashion, candy and T-shirts were thrown to scrambling children. Old Glory was front and center, draped on car hoods, embroidered on T-shirts, hung on strollers and waved in the air.
Gilroy resident Alex Chavarria, 33, with her husband and three children, arrived early and staked out a shady spot under a tree.
“We think it’s important so that the kids can learn about this day,” she said. “We hope (the city) keeps on doing this every year.”
She can thank organizers like Gartman for their efforts. While onlookers had to bring only themselves and some sun block, the parade has been nine months in the making for Gartman, who estimates he has put some 500 hours into planning.
From his office in a beige and brown RV, Gartman sat tucked away like the Wizard of Oz, orchestrating the parade via a radio system that connected him to other organizers. A slew of last-minute entries kept Gartman up until 4 a.m. Sunday, and thorough planning kept him and his crew on their toes and holding their breath right up until the CALSTAR helicopter hovered over 10th Street.
At that very moment, fellow organizer and Councilman Bob Dillon sent a radio message to Gartman: “Relax, Craig. It’s a parade and you did great.”
“We are like the bride of the wedding,” Gartman joked about the organizers’ attention to detail. “We know everything that went wrong. Nobody else cares.”
Celebrations continued after the hour-long parade at Christmas Hill Park.
There was rock-climbing, emergency response vehicles to be ogled and kids spinning hula hoops and jumping in inflatable houses. Ice cream vendors did brisk business in the 80-degree weather.
Gilroy residents Mark and Michelle Craig participated in the Los Madres parade entry with their 15-month-old daughter Kate. This is their first year attending.
“Until the last couple of years, it was just a holiday to most people. Now it’s hitting home a lot closer,” said Mark Craig, alluding to the conflict in Iraq.
In addition to providing an occasion to reflect on war, the Craigs hoped to meet new people and to continue family traditions.
“It’s part of growing up,” said Mark Craig. “It’s something we did when we were kids.”
Gartman notes that this year’s response to Memorial Day has been greater than in the past.
“There’s been a fantastic show of support from the community, both in terms of finances and participation,” he said. He noted that while they ran into debt with last year’s parade, this year there were more donations, with the largest amount of $5,000 coming from Wal-Mart. He estimates that the parade costs between $8,000 and $10,000.
Speaking at the start of the parade, Gartman anticipated looking back on a job well done.
“At 4 p.m., I’m gonna crack open a cold beer and toast another great Memorial Day weekend,” he said. “We all vow we’re never gonna do this again. An hour later, we’re talking about what we’re gonna do next year.”
