The Salinas Veterans Day Parade is usually Monterey County’s largest event, drawing as many as 25,000 spectators, but after 14 years it’s on pause, due to its all-volunteer board losing some longtime members in the past year.
“Quite honestly in order to put on the Veterans Day parade you have to have a full force just to do it justice for our veterans here in Monterey County,” says Tony Virrueta, chair of the committee, "so we postponed that until next year."
A second smaller “Salute to Veterans” event they planned for the day was also put on pause.
Many Veterans Day events are still happening around the county on the federal holiday, Tuesday, Nov. 11, including the Greenfield Veterans Day Parade sponsored by American Legion Post 635, taking place at 2pm on El Camino Real between Apple and Elm streets in Greenfield. It’s followed by an open house at the post (at 615 N. El Camino Real).
Below is a list of events around the county honoring veterans. Originally known as Armistice Day, it was started to commemorate the end of World War I at the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.
11am observances
- Central Coast Veterans Cemetery, 2900 Parker Flats Cut Off Road, Seaside
- Seaside American Legion Post 694, 33007 Marina Drive, Marina
- American Legion Post 512, Devendorf Park, Ocean and Junipero, Carmel
- Point Pinos Lighthouse, 80 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove
11am-4pm
Salute to Veterans Jamboree, Veterans Transition Center, 220 Twelfth St., Marina - Includes a car show, live music, food, vendors, activities for kids, a raffle and services for veterans, including free haircuts, eye exams, dental care and other resources
11:11am
Monterey County Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Veterans Way, Salinas
1:11pm
American Legion Post 41, 1110 Veterans Drive, Monterey
2pm
Greenfield Parade (see above)
4-5pm
Marina Heritage Wall unveiling at The Dunes shopping center, 99 General Stilwell Drive, Marina (next to The Brass Tap)