Considered the largest in Monterey County, the Salinas Veterans Day parade in November has been put on hold this year.
After much deliberation, the all-volunteer parade committee decided to take a break this year to regroup and plan for an even stronger celebration in the future.
“This was one of the hardest decisions we have ever made,” Parade Chairman Tony Virrueta said. “This break will allow us to focus on enhancing the event’s impact to ensure it continues to honor our veterans with the respect and recognition they deserve.”
The parade, started 14 years ago, has become a flagship event in Monterey County, drawing an estimated 20,000 spectators to watch former and currently serving members of the military and their families march down Oldtown Salinas.
“We honor those who are serving, those who have served and the ones that gave the ultimate sacrifice and the families who stayed home,” Virrueta said.
While the parade is on pause this year, Virrueta said Veteran’s Day will not go unnoticed. Volunteers are already discussing a smaller event to be held in Salinas, perhaps at a city park.
Organizing the event is a 365-day endeavor
Putting on the Veteran’s Day parade is a year-round endeavor, Virrueta said.
The parade does not charge entry fees, so to cover operating costs, including liability insurance and permitting, the committee holds fundraisers throughout the year.
Raising money and recruiting and training volunteers—as many as 100 are needed the day of the event, fall under the responsibility of the parade committee.
“Every member of the committee has a role,” said Virrueta, adding that committee members are all volunteers, with jobs and families to raise. This year, some longtime members have stepped away from the committee, leaving a skeleton crew.
“Our parade committee has put in countless of dedicated hours for fourteen years to make this holiday a special day honoring our veterans,” Virrueta said. “We are forever grateful to our volunteers that participate during the day and have the utmost gratitude and respect for our committee members.”
“But just like the military teaches you, you can do something by yourself, but you can do more as a team,” he added.
Anyone who would like to volunteer for this year’s smaller event or to serve on the parade committee, can contact Tony Virrueta at tonyvirrueta@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: There will be no Veterans Day Parade in Salinas this year, say organizers
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian / Salinas Californian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
