More than 70 people gathered Saturday at Veterans Memorial
Square to honor Veterans Day
Morgan Hill – Eddie Bowers graduated from Live Oak High School in 1967 with one goal in mind: to join the U.S. Army.
He has trouble describing why he wanted to go to Vietnam – it was just something he had to do. As a 19-year-old, he sought adventure. As a countryman, he sought honor. As the youngest of three brothers, he wanted to keep older family members out of harm’s way by volunteering to fight.
“I didn’t want my brothers there,” said Bowers, 58, who organized the 15th annual Veterans Day ceremony held Saturday at Veterans Memorial Square at Monterey Road and First Street.
“They both came over, and I sent them home,” said Bowers, noting that Army policy required just one brother at a time to serve. “They both had families. I didn’t have no kids, no girlfriend, nothing. My friends were all over there.”
For Bowers, who was a helicopter door gunner who once held a dying comrade in his arms, camaraderie was one of the greatest gifts of military service.
“They teach you that in the service … I can’t say I had better friends over there, but I had tighter friends, closer friends in Vietnam,” Bowers struggled to say. “You’re fighting together. You might die tomorrow. You might die tonight. You might die before you wake up in the morning, from the rocket attacks.”
In the face of so much danger, Bowers said he tried to lighten the mood.
“Everyone wanted to hang out in my room,” he said, cracking a smile. “I always made people feel good.”
So did the ceremony Saturday – attended by more than 70 people paying tribute to those who served in the military.
“My dad was actually in the Korean War and it was touching how these people gave up so much for our country,” said Kathy Corcoran, a teacher at El Toro Elementary School. “I thought it would be important to come out … it’s a town tradition.”
Bill Tykol, 87, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II, wore his Army beret to the ceremony.
“It’s wonderful to remember all our friends,” Tykol said.
Monica McClintock, who accompanied Corcoran and also teaches at El Toro, said her father survived World War II and used that experience to instill patriotic lessons.
“He always reminded me that’s why we have the right to vote,” McClintock said. “I know some of the people from Vietnam from high school, so I just came to remember everyone who served our country.”
The ceremony honored men and women for their military service with a flag raised at half mast. A lone trumpeter played taps while a crowd of about 70 people saluted. They sang the national anthem, placed wreathes on the memorial, heard prayers and listened to elementary school children sing patriotic songs.
“You never forget those who have given their lives and made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Gene Guglielmo, Bowers’ classmate in high school. “War is a terrible thing. It also brings back a lot of emotions for the families who have lost loved ones.”
Currently, 39 names are engraved at Veterans Memorial Square, which was dedicated to the city in 1991.
Two new names were added this year: John D. Schwartz, who died in 1947, and Kevin S. Arata, who died in 2004.
Gray skies and drizzle accompanied the ceremony.
“I think the rain was just heaven crying a little bit,” Guglielmo said.
Tony Burchyns covers Morgan Hill for The Times. Reach him at (408) 779-4106 ext. 201 or tb*******@*************es.com.
