Colton Turns Red, White and Blue for Veterans Day

On Nov. 11, Colton held its annual Veterans Day parade to honor, remember and support service men and women who have served or are serving in the nation's armed forces. After months of planning, the city of Colton presented the community with the parade which flowed through the streets - north to south from F to O streets). Before the parade, families lined the closed off streets, crosswalks and sidewalks in anticipation of the veterans and organizations to come. Flags waved and were saluted by attendees as the parade came into view with The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” entering the sound scape. Leading the parade was Colton High School NJROTC and marching band. Colton Mayor Sarah Zamora followed the marching band with many organizations following after her vehicle, including: Colton City Police and the fire department; Colton Recreation and Parks Commission; Colton’s Mayor Elect, Richard De La Rosa; The American Legion Auxiliary Post #155; veterans and community members; and many more. Each vehicle tossed candy and goodies out to the children they passed. Attendees cheered, clapped, whistled, waved and saluted the veterans and organizations through the parade route. Community member Robert Chavez honored friends and uncles who are veterans at the parade. “I am usually in the parade [driving] my [classic] cars," he said. Chavez first heard about the parade when his parents brought him with them when he was a boy, a tradition he has kept alive in his family. "Now I bring my boy, and my girls are all here scattered around the parade,” said Chavez. Other community members such as Rosanna Gonzales and her family use the Veterans Day parade as a way to teach family values and lessons to their children. “My kids are in the Colton High School band, so everything that’s part of the city, we’re a part of," said Gonzales. She went on to explain she likes for her children to see the veterans. “I explain [to my kids that the veterans] fought in wars for our country and they deserve honor and that recognition.” Gonzales' mother, Delilah, added the parade, "It's a really good thing because there are so many family values here; that families would take time to come out, I think it’s so beautiful.” Saying thank you and honoring the veterans did not stop after the parade, but rather culminated in Colton’s traditional Veterans Day Ceremony at Fleming Park in the afternoon. Attendees included Colton City Council Members David Toro, Frank Navarro, Susan Olivia and Deirdre Bennett, Mayor Zamora and Mayor Elect De La Rosa, plus many veterans, organizers, and community members. The ceremony kicked off with the Pledge of Allegiance recited by a Paul Rogers Elementary School student to a crowd of standing and saluting veterans and residents. Then a prayer was offered, the POW/MIA chair was prepared as a symbol and physical reminder of those service men and women captured or unaccounted for; a wreath was hung at the back of the crowd by The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 155, which had at least half a dozen of its members participate in the parade. After the opening rituals, speeches thanking veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices were given. Community members were thanked for showing their support for the city, the parade, and for veterans. Finally, poems about liberty and thanking the veterans were read and songs were sung, including The Beatles' "Till There Was You." Those veterans who participated in the parade, like Richard Quintana, President of American Legion Auxiliary Riders Unit #155, were moved by the community's thanks and show of support. Quintana stated his favorite part as "being recognized, especially from other veterans, and the younger crowd thanking us. And riding the motorcycles in the parade is pretty cool - the kids are just unbelievably excited [to see the bikes.]" Cecilia Silva, who coordinated the parade, added, "Being a veteran myself, I look forward the parade. It shows we are not forgotten."