Dedication of a new addition to the Veterans Memorial Wall and a special ceremony for veterans at Escalon High School will help the community mark Veterans Day next week.
The program at EHS is set for Tuesday, Nov. 10 when the Associated Student Body students will be putting on a program honoring local veterans.
The theme this year is “Service” and the ASB students are asking veterans to attend so that they may be honored for their service to our country.
Tuesday’s assembly is one hour in length. It will begin at 2:06 p.m., Nov.10 in the high school gym.
“We are asking veterans attending as our guests to get to the school at 1:45 p.m. on the day of the assembly, and our ASB students will be in the front of the school to escort individuals to the new gym,” said ASB Advisor Shelly Hesse.
Those veterans wanting to attend can contact Hesse at 838-7073 Ext. 7013 or email rhesse@sjcoe.net by Nov. 7.
Meanwhile, work being done this past Saturday at the Escalon Veterans Memorial Wall adjacent to the community center saw another column of bricks being put in, each one including the name of an area veteran or current service member. A time capsule included in this brick column addition to the wall will be sealed the day after Veterans Day, so those attending the services on Nov. 11 can bring a small item to place inside.
More than 80 new bricks were being put in place by Anthony Bizzanelli of Ceres on Saturday, donating his time to cement the bricks into place on the new column.
“I plan on doing a roll call the day we do the dedication,” project coordinator George Tavares said, with a reading of names on the new bricks being announced as part of the ceremonies.
Tavares, a Vietnam veteran, said they plan to add more columns so there is still time for local veterans to have a brick. Any Escalon American Legion member is eligible.
The annual Escalon Veterans Day activities are planned on Wednesday, Nov. 11 starting with a parade on Main Street at 10:30 a.m.
There will also be a Memorial Service at the Escalon Community Center Memorial Wall following the parade and a chicken barbecue hosted at the community center from noon to 3 p.m., after the memorial service. Dine in or take out. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for children 12 years and under.
Parade coordinator this year is Vince Giovaniello, a member of the American Legion Riders. Escalon’s Gustafson-Thompson American Legion Post 263 helps coordinate the annual Veterans Day festivities. Call Giovaniello for more information about the parade, 209-869-6978 or 209-604-9100.
Tickets for the barbecue will be available at the door or call Al Bellinger, 209-838-3388.
