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Memories of veterans
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Memorial Day. As a teenager in Erie, Pennsylvania, it marked the beginning of the summer season—one generally defined with a forecast of no snow flurries.
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My fellow Strong Vincent High School bandmates and I often found our wool uniforms soaked in perspiration while marching up State Street to celebrate this national holiday. The entire city would turn out to view the parade, watching the aging, yet upright WWI, WWII and Korean War veterans who doggedly kept pace with the younger parade participants. Picnics followed; it was a day off.
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It was also a time of reflection, not just for the older generation at the time, but for others as the Vietnam War was on and its effects were beginning to ripple through multiple generations.
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For me, every Memorial Day since then remains a day of reflection, especially here in downtown Morgan Hill where a special ceremony is celebrated, not with a parade, but with a community’s annual appointment with an American Flag at 9 a.m., at the cobblestone Veterans Memorial centered at Monterey Road and First Street on this one day set aside for its citizenry to remember its fallen heroes and veterans. Consider it a morning break from our daily routines where past meets present.
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Both solemn and celebratory, the annual affair starts with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a medley of traditional American patriotic melodies, the sound of “Taps” echoing for blocks through the downtown corridor, the reading aloud of the names of locals who died in combat and those who passed during their time in service—and the close with the raising of our Stars and Stripes.
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The reading of the names stirs my memory, taking me back home to, as I recall, a quiet young man, a familiar face at our family restaurant, Joseph (Joey) Anthony Santone. It was around 1967. A bit older than me, Joey would join other young guys doing errands for Dad about the diner. One day he is in a booth at the restaurant, next thing we know he is in South Vietnam. We were stunned by the loss of Joey in this war. I think of him, his family, his sacrifice every Memorial Day.
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As an adolescent, I never thought of Joey Santone as a “veteran.” That term seemed reserved for the elderly. But like a lot of things, thoughts and opinions change with age. Not until years later with a chance visit to Washington, D.C.’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial did I truly understand the magnitude of his personal sacrifice and service.
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As my fingers ran over his name forever etched into the wall of black granite, I knew Memorial Day would now be different for me.
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Hope to see you downtown.
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George Panos
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Morgan Hill
Close Monterey Road for ceremony
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Monday, May 25, 2015 is Memorial Day and there is a Memorial Service downtown on First Street and Monterey Road, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at approximately 9:30 a.m.
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The problem is, one lane is closed in each direction and cars, buses and trucks are allowed to use the other lanes making it hard to hear and very dangerous for the 100-plus people attending the service. Last year I asked the chief of police (as other people did) why they don’t close Monterey Road from Main Avenue to Second Street. He replied, if there is an emergency downtown the emergency vehicles need to get by. He also stated that was per his boss (the mayor) and city council.
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My question is, what about the Fourth of July Parade, Halloween and let’s not forget the Santa Clause Parade, when the city shuts down all lanes of traffic downtown. The Mayor and City Council of Morgan Hill should respect the people who fought and are fighting for our country, by shutting down Monterey Road from Main Avenue to Second Street on Memorial Day and Veterans Day (it will be for one hour max).
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Also, LEAVE the Memorial Plaque where it is. It isn’t in a dangerous place for people to visit. What is dangerous are the new bike lanes downtown.
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Patricia Flaherty
Morgan Hill
Join local veterans and their families as they remember those who died while serving in the armed forces with a ceremony 9 a.m. Monday, May 25 at the Downtown Morgan Hill Veterans monument, at Monterey Road and First Street.
