Jim Perales stood at the Veterans Memorial Building podium today and recalled to the gathered crowd how he had spent 24 years in the United States Air Force, how he flew many "sortie" missions to protect ground forces during the Korean War and Vietnam.
Their job was to protect.
"In any way and any means you need to, do it," he said.
He recounted spending more than 10,000 hours in flight during combat, and coming close on many occasions to getting "knocked down."
"But we were lucky," he said. "I was very lucky."
The mood was somber and respectful as always at San Benito County's annual Veterans Day ceremony and during activities that followed, finishing with the downtown parade in the afternoon.
Perales, commander of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post, also was the master of ceremonies for the 11:11 a.m. tradition outside the Veterans Memorial Building.
The event kicked off with a performance by Sacred Heart School students to the music of "God Bless the USA." Speakers who followed included local politicians such as county Supervisors Anthony Botelho and Pat Loe, and Mayor Eugenia Sanchez.
Veteran Robert Gonzales represented the American Legion Post 69 and how he "still has problems" related to his service in Vietnam from 1965 to 1969 as a Marine.
"I salute all of you," he said.
Perales midway through the event then presented Tres Pinos resident and veteran John Hockenberry with a Bronze Star for taking part in active-fire combat during World War II. Hockenberry had been among those eligible for the medals, while his brother recently encouraged him to follow through with the necessary paperwork. Sixty-four years after the service that led to the award, he received the Bronze Star in the mail last year. He said his brother convinced him to accept it during this week's ceremony.
While Perales himself spoke, he asked the veterans from all the wars to stand up, with each group receiving separate ovations.
Perales followed: "Ladies and gentlemen, these are your heroes in the community of Hollister."
Many of those same veterans later took part in the parade downtown as well.
As all generations of San Benito County watched from the sidewalks along San Benito Street, under overcast skies, the VFW Post 9242 led off the procession, which featured local veterans groups as well as an array of youth participants.
The Rancho-Maze Middle School Band performed, while three Boeing-Stearman World War II planes few by overhead, with a trail of smoke following the three yellow aircraft.
With Veterans Day, there inevitably is a biker presence, too, as the American Legion Riders filled San Benito Street and represented veterans of combat action since World War II.
Look back for video of the Veterans Day activities. And for a story on Tres Pinos resident John Hockenberry, who received a Bronze Star at Wednesday's Veterans Day ceremony after waiting 64 years to accept it, see the Free Lance on Tuesday.
Kollin Kosmicki Kollin Kosmicki is editor of the Free Lance and Pinnacle. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 337 or editor@freelancenews.com.
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