Merced gives thanks to veterans

Those wanting to honor Merced County veterans did not need to look far Monday, with a ceremony in Courthouse Park and the Veterans Day Parade along Main Street.

A Vietnam Veterans of America ceremony also remembered the service of veterans on Monday morning.

The veterans group read a poem before firing off a 21-gun salute and singing, “God Bless America.”

Army veteran Tom Solimini, 59, said it feels good to get some recognition for the time he served in Vietnam, because “we went through hell coming home.” He stood in Courthouse Park during the ceremony Monday.

Solimini said there was a time he was afraid to wear his uniform, because of the backlash returning Vietnam veterans sometimes saw stateside over an unpopular war. He said he’s not ready to say Vietnam veterans get all the recognition they deserve, but it’s improving.

“I used to come out here, and there was nobody out here,” he said. “Lately, there’s been more people coming out.”

Solimini was in the crowd later that day, as dozens of parade entries paid tribute to servicemen and servicewomen. Riders on motorcycles, horses, floats and classic cars, as well as marching bands, took part in the parade that stretched from G to O streets.

After the national anthem began the festivities, the NorCal Crosswinds formation team performed several flyovers with its four planes.

Nancy McElwain, 71, marched in the parade with a flag in her hands. She said she walked to honor veterans such as her husband, Air Force veteran Stuart.

“It’s a wonderful tribute to the men who served and weren’t appreciated when they came home,” she said.

Eight veterans served as grand marshals for this year’s parade:

Jim Kanabay of the county’s Veterans Service Office read off each grand marshal’s career highlights during a ceremony in Bob Hart Square before the parade.

“It’s amazing the depth and breadth of citizenship, and just good people we have here in Merced,” he said. “I think sometimes we lose sight of that.”

This story was originally published November 11, 2013 at 8:26 PM.