Veterans Day festivities included Santa Ynez Valley Patriots Parade

 

By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

Photos by Barry Sigman

As each branch of service’s flag is brought in, their song is played and members of that branch stand to be recognized. The U.S. Marine Corps flag is shown, with Marine veterans standing.
The Santa Ynez Valley Patriot Parade started with a parade including entrants like the Chumash Color Guard.
The parade was small but lively as a bunch of Pin Up Girls drove through Santa Ynez.
The Santa Ynez Valley Patriots Parade was filled with patriotic entrants.

Veterans Day was extended through the weekend, as this year saw a new event to mark the occasion. In addition to the normal Veterans Day event at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall, there was also the Santa Ynez Valley Patriots Parade. 

The VFW Post 7139 honored and saluted all American veterans who throughout our history have unselfishly placed their lives on the line for our freedom and way of life on Thursday, Nov. 11, at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall. 

The event included an American Legion flag raising in front of the hall, national anthem and songs sung by the Santa Ynez Valley Chorale, the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School band, and Vandenberg Space Force Base and local veteran speakers. 

A free luncheon followed the program in the American Legion Wing served by Country Garden Catering, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Heritage Girls.  

The Santa Ynez Valley Patriot Parade was then held on Saturday, Nov. 13. This free veterans event was sponsored by the Santa Barbara Veterans Foundation and the Santa Ynez Valley Elks Lodge. It started with a parade going up Sagunto Street from the Maverick Saloon to the Red Barn and then looped around Santa Ynez and returned to the Maverick on Meadowvale.  

The parade entrants were the American Legion and Chumash color guards, Flat Fender Club military vehicles, Jim Kunkle’s Jeep, Daughters of the American Revolution, Boy Scouts, Patriot Riders motorcycles and other patriotic entrants.  

Once the parade returned to the Maverick, there was a display of military vehicles and a program in front of the Maverick with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the national anthem and Pledge of Allegiance, as well as military speakers, a live band, and a Pinup Girl contest. John Palminteri from KEYT was emcee for part of the program.

All donations collected will benefit tri-county veterans and their families through the Santa Barbara Veterans Foundation.