Pleasanton's Veterans Take Center Stage in Annual Parade

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

"Korea: The Forgotten War," is the theme of the tenth annual Tri-Valley Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony, which will take place on Sunday, November 5 in downtown Pleasanton.

According to retired U.S. Navy nurse Carol Bohn, co-chair of the event, the parade has grown consistently since its inception ten years ago. "We had some Boy Scout troops, one color guard, and maybe 20 or 25 entries in the first parade. Now, we're up to about 60 entries," she says.

The Tri-Valley Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony will begin at 1:00 pm, leaving from the old firehouse on Railroad Avenue, proceeding down Main Street, and concluding at the Veterans Memorial Building on Old Bernal. After the parade, a ceremony will be held at Veterans Plaza Park on Peters Avenue. The entire event is sponsored by the City of Pleasanton, VFW Post 6298, and American Legion Post 237.

The parade will feature color guards from all branches of the military, members of the local VFW and American Legion, veterans from the VA Hospital in Livermore, the mayor of each Tri-Valley city, and other local luminaries. About 50 military vehicles are also expected to be on hand, as will a number of Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops.

"My favorite thing is seeing all the young people involved, interacting with the veterans and developing that sense of patriotism," says Bohn. "We pass out flags to everyone along the parade route, and the scouts will help us with that."

Major General Dan Helix (ret.), commander of the Korean War Veterans Association, will be the featured speaker at the ceremony. Mr. Intil Chun, Deputy Counsel General for the Republic of Korea, will also be a special guest.

The parade is not the only activity that involves Pleasanton's VFW Post. The City of Pleasanton is currently renovating the historic Veterans Memorial Building at 301 Main Street. The 75-year-old building will receive seismic retrofitting and an update of its heating, electrical, and plumbing systems, as well as some other comfort-oriented amenities.

"We're adding air conditioning and the kitchen is being updated to be a fully functioning caterers kitchen," says Eileen Hofstadt, Community Services manager for the City of Pleasanton. "We're also adding more restrooms.

"We're bringing the building back to its original luster," she adds. "It's 75 years old and it's been heavily used by the community all that time, so we're taking the opportunity to make it brighter and cheerier again."

In addition to serving as the meeting place for Pleasanton's veterans groups, the facility is also used by the city for recreation classes, community meetings, and as a public rental space for fundraisers, family gatherings, anniversaries, weddings, large performances, and other activities. Renovations are expected to be completed in late spring, 2007, and events are already being booked as far as one year in advance.

For additional information on the Tri-Valley Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony, contact Carol Bohn CDR, NC, USN (Ret.) at (925) 200-9513. For inquiries regarding the Veterans Memorial Building, call the City of Pleasanton Parks and Community Services Department at (925) 931-5340 and ask for Sue Reed.

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