Sun-Star special section pays tribute to Merced area veterans

Veterans take center stage today as people everywhere pay tribute to all those who have served their country.

From Merced and Atwater to Sacramento and Washington, D.C., veterans are being honored for all they have done and the sacrifices they have made. There will be salutes, speeches, displays, flyovers, picnics and, of course, parades.

The Merced Sun-Star is featuring a special tribute to veterans today, with a section devoted to the stories of Merced area veterans. They are the stories of those who served in a variety of roles in different branches of the military during times of war and peace, including the Cold War.

This Veterans Day special section will also be available at the Merced parade. Links to veterans included in the special section are here: Arturo Jones Jr. , Lyniece Brooks, Ken Henn, Robert Gilbert, Gabriel Smith, Alfred Gamboni, Navpreet Sandher, Josi Fragnito, John Bain , Bill Dacus, Peter “Scotty” Burns, Sgt. Ricardo Robles, Judge Brown and Otto Rigan.

The Merced festivities begin at 10 a.m. with the closing ceremony for the Field of Honor at Merced College, 3600 M St. The Field of Honor is a display of more than 1,000 U.S. flags dedicated to veterans, active-duty military personnel and first responders. There will also be a vendors fair at Merced’s Veterans Park beginning at 10 a.m. near the old courthouse.

At noon in downtown Merced, a ceremony will honor veterans in Bob Hart Square, followed by the annual Merced Veterans Day Parade at 1 p.m. Grand marshals for this year’s parade include Peter D. Burns, Robert Gilbert, Otto Regan, Alfred Gamboni, Judge Brown, Navpreet Sandher, Rachel Brooks and Mary Fragnito.

The vehicles, veterans groups, marching bands and more will proceed along West Main Street, between G and O streets. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people are expected to be on hand.

In Atwater, the community will honor veterans of all wars for their valor, courage and sacrifice at Veterans Memorial Park, 2680 Buhach Road, at 4 p.m.

In Livingston, the Veterans Day parade begins at 11 a.m at C and Main streets, proceeding down Main Street to Park Street. An award ceremony will immediately follow the parade at the Livingston Veterans Memorial Hall, 1605 Seventh St., where a homemade soup lunch will be served for a $5 donation.

This story was originally published November 10, 2014 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Sun-Star special section pays tribute to Merced area veterans."