Hundreds turned out to honor veterans at the third annual Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the County of Santa Clara Veterans Services Office. Veterans from many different eras attended, including World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War and Desert Storm.
One veteran in attendance was Frank S. Wright, 98, a former World War II Marine from Lodi. He entered the service in 1942 at the age of 16 after lying about his age and stayed in the service for four years.
After the ceremony, many veterans and their family mingled and gravitated toward Wright, including younger service members like Marine veterans Christopher Estrada and Justin Conrad. Navy veteran Ebert Ortega stayed after the ceremony to shake hands with Wright. Wright wrote a book about his experiences in World War II called “Battles in the Pacific: World War II: My Personal War Causing PTSD.”
Speakers included Steve Fondacaro, director of the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office, and Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee, with the program led by Darlyn Escalante, program manager with the office. Lee is a Navy veteran who served during the Gulf War and remained in the Navy Reserves for two decades, according to his website.
The ceremony, held in the pavilion at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, included a “Presentation of the Colors” by VFW Post 3609 from Gilroy and a POW/MIA ceremony led by Escalante.
Frank S. Wright, right, 98, from Lodi, a Marine World War II veteran, shakes hands with Christopher Estrada, left, a Marine veteran, from Milpitas, as his friends Justin Conrad, center, a Marine veteran from San Jose, and Ebert Ortega, far left, a Navy veteran from San Jose, at the end of the third annual Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. Wright fought in WWII from 1942-1946 and enlisted at 16-years-old after lying about his age. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) VFW Post 6309 member John Ceballos, from Gilroy, salutes during the third annual Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Flags are placed at the third annual Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee speaks to an audience at the third annual Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) VFW Post 6309 members from Gilroy, from left to right, Steve Ghazi, John Ceballos, and William Kirby led by Raul Torrez, foreground, present the colors at the third annual Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Steve Fondacaro, director of the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office, speaks during the third annual Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) VFW Post 6309 members from Gilroy, from left to right, Steve Ghazi, John Ceballos, and William Kirby prepare to present the colors at the third annual Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Al Montes, from VFW Post 6309 from Gilroy, lights a candle during a POW/MIA Ceremony during the third annual Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Audience members salute during the National Anthem during the third annual Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Darlyn Escalante, program manager with the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office, speaks to the audience during the third annual Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) VFW Post 6309 members from Gilroy, Raul Torrez, center, leads Steve Ghazi, left, and William Kirby as they present the colors at the third annual Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Office at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
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