The 10th annual Tri-Valley Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 5. This year’s theme is titled “Korea: The Forgotten War.” and will focus on honoring veterans of the Korean War, which took place from 1950-53.
“We thought we were due to honor Korean War veterans,” said Carol Bohn, chaplain of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6298 and co-chair of the parade committee. “We hadn’t done it before, and we had honored other wars. Many of the vets from that war are getting older; it was really time.”
The parade, sponsored by the city of Pleasanton, VFW Post 6298 and American Legion Post 237, is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., stepping off from the old firehouse on Railroad Avenue. This is a change from past parades, which started at the Veterans Memorial Building on Main Street. With the historic building under construction this year, changes had to be made to the parade route, Bohn explained. Instead, the parade will work its way from Railroad Avenue, proceed down Main Street and disband in front of the Veterans Memorial Building at the intersection of Main Street and Old Bernal Avenue.
Color guards from all military services, VFW and American Legion posts, bands, veterans from the VA Hospital in Livermore, Tri-Valley mayors, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will all participate. Korean War veterans will be featured as guests of honor.
When the parade is over at approximately 1:45 p.m., the ceremony will continue at Veterans Plaza Park, 550 Peters Ave. Maj. Gen. Dan Helix, commander of the Korean War Veterans Association, is the scheduled keynote speaker. Congressman Richard Pombo and Mayor Jennifer Hosterman are also scheduled to speak.
Parade coordinators are asking all Korean War veterans to step forward and take their place of honor in the parade. Those interested in participating can contact Bohn at 200-9513.
