The City of Antioch celebrated Veterans Day with its celebration downtown at the Marina followed by a parade and veterans lunch at the VFW Hall.
Mayor Wade Harper began the celebration by highlighting how he was lucky to have a military step-father.
“I can remember being raised by a single mother and she had us pray and taught us how to pray and the lord would bless us with a father and not only did he bless us with a father, he blessed us with a man who was a military drill sergeant who had no problem raising three boys,” said Harper. “He would say things like when I say jump I want you to say how high. He taught us our values. It’s the veteran, not the preacher who has given us our freedoms. It’s the veteran, not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press. It’s the veteran, not the pope who has given us freedom of speech. It is the veteran not the lawyer who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the veteran, not the Politician who has given us the right to vote. It is the veteran who salutes the flag who serves under the flag. So happy Veterans Day to all those who have served both past and present”
JR Wilson, Delta Veterans Group spoke about the unity of veterans in Antioch and East Contra Costa County and shared how it’s the unity of all the groups that make it a great veteran’s community.
“We all work together, we all play together and we all certainly all served together,” said Wilson.
He shared that they continue to work today’s bringing the Stand Down on the Delta in September 2015 at the Antioch Fairgrounds where 250-300 homeless veterans will be provided with services from dental to medical to other services.
Clark F. Strickland, a World War II Veteran, spoke about military history and highlighted his time of service.
During the ceremony, World War II veterans Herb White and Dave Wick are honored with plaques by Antioch’s VFW Post 6435 Commander.
For more photographs, visit Victoria Sheridan at PhotoShelter.com
The event was made possible through sponsors and community efforts which include:
- Leo Fontana Family Foundation
- Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch
- Jeff and Josie Monaghan
- Martha Parsons in Memory of Former Mayor Barney Parsons
- Republic Services
- V.F.W. Post 6435
