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The 16th Annual San Benito County Veterans Day Parade promises to be the biggest and best yet. Spectators and participants alike can enjoy patriotic floats, classic cars, equestrian units, school groups, emergency agencies, marching bands and much more!

This year, Hollister residents, WWII Veteran, Lt. Colonel, Richard Castro and longtime VFW Post 9242 Auxiliary President, Dolly DeVasier, will be honored as the Grand Marshalls.

The parade, sponsored by VFW Post 9242, will be held as the finale for Veterans Day activities on Saturday, Nov. 11. The parade starts at 1:30 p.m. and the parade route runs through downtown Hollister. Applications for the parade are available at the Veterans Memorial Building, online at www.vfwpost9242.org/announcements-events or by calling 638-6434. There is no entry fee for this parade. As has been tradition in past parades, the VFW Post invites any and all veterans to ride on their float in the parade.

The public is invited to a BBQ lunch at noon before the parade which includes a tri-tip sandwich, beans, chips and a drink for $10. Veterans eat for free!

Other activities for the day include a breakfast hosted by LULAC at 7 a.m. at the Hollister Community Center and the following activities will take place at the Veteran’s Memorial Building:

10 a.m. Veterans Benefit Fair

10:30 a.m. Banner Presentations

11 a.m. Memorial Ceremony

12 noon BBQ Lunch

Jimmy Panetta will be the guest speaker for the banner presentations at 10:30 a.m. The banner presentations feature installing banners on the light post in the Veteran’s Memorial Building Plaza and along San Benito Street that individually honor our local active duty military personnel. The banners will remain in place until the service member is deactivated.

For more information, contact Frankie Gallagher at (831) 638-6434.