Your Red Cross Update

The Silicon Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross had a strong contingent of more than 50 people supporting the Veteran’s Day parade in San Jose on Sunday, November 11. The parade was a special one because it marked 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

The first Armistice Day, a commemoration of the end of World War I, was celebrated on November 11, 1919 after being proclaimed by President Wilson with these words:

“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day in 1954.

The Red Cross was well-represented by Youth Volunteers from a number of local high schools, including Bellarmine, Evergreen, and Milpitas. In addition, there were volunteers from the Silicon Valley Chapter’s Service to Armed Forces Committee, along with members of the Chapter’s First Aid Services Team (FAST) who walked the route escorted by an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) and a FAST support vehicle.

The mile-and-a-half route started on Santa Clara Street at the Route 87 intersection and continued to Market Street, where it turned south past Christmas in the Park and the Reviewing Stand.

Youth volunteers passed out thank-you cards to veterans, expressing appreciation for their service. Participants enjoyed the applause and thank-you cheers from the thousands of spectators who lined the parade route.

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About the author: Larry Dietz is a Colonel (Retired), U.S. Army Reserve, as well as a dedicated Red Cross public affairs volunteer in the Silicon Valley Chapter.

For more photos: Please go to this album on the chapter’s Flickr site.