Thousands salute veterans at Merced events

Though it was a bit chilly and overcast, the rain held off on Veterans Day as residents of Merced County celebrated servicemen and servicewomen..

Like communities around the country, Merced celebrated those who have served with a parade in their honor. But the city also continued an event that began last year – the Field of Honor.

Lori Canal, 49, of Merced stood near one of the 1,795 flags flying at Merced College on Tuesday, the day of the display’s closing ceremony. Canal said she bought a flag to honor her husband, retired Sgt. 1st Class Victor Canal, who served in the Army.

Lori Canal said she and her three children wanted it to be a surprise for her 52-year-old husband. “We’re very, very proud of him and his service,” she said. “He was in Desert Storm. He had some hardship tours, but made it through.”

The family was stationed in or near Washington, D.C., for a decade of Victor Canal’s 21 years in the service. She said the family would visit Arlington National Cemetery every year, so the Field of Honor helps fill that role for them on Veterans Day.

Their two sons, 12-year-old Caleb and 30-year-old Daniel, also attended the ceremony. The elder son said he was pleased to be able to have a fitting way to remember veterans. “This Field of Honor, I think, contributes that sense of gravity and weight to the holiday,” he said.

The closing ceremony for Field of Honor included patriotic music and other traditions. Small children and uniformed veterans huddled together as they led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem. The large crowd of people gathered also took an 11-second moment of silence, a nod to the date, Nov. 11.

Ron Taylor, the president of Merced College, said he’s proud the school can serve veterans not only with the display, but also if they enroll as students. “Merced College is proud to play a role in hosting the honor,” he said. “We hope it continues for many, many years to come.”

Organizers said the proceeds from Field of Honor sent 1 ton of almonds to troops serving overseas, and also benefited the Central Valley Honor Flight, a nonprofit that takes aging veterans to the nation’s capital to see historic monuments.

Also flying a flag in honor of a veteran was Mary Ellis, 76, of Merced, whose daughter served in the Army during Desert Storm. Stephanie L. Amoako, a Merced High School graduate, died from cancer in March.

Amoako drove a troop transport truck before she was injured and moved into an office job, Ellis said. Field of Honor was another way to remember her daughter, she said, so she appreciated the space to do so. “We show our gratitude for the opportunity,” she said.

Field of Honor culminated with a rendition of taps, a missing-man flyover and the playing of “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes.

Other parts of Merced County also honored veterans on Tuesday. Livingston held a parade through downtown, which was followed by a homemade soup lunch. Atwater held events in the city’s Veterans Memorial Park.

Back in Merced, a crowd of thousands stood just before lunch near downtown’s Bob Hart Square, where Merced County Human Services Agency and elected officials honored veterans. It was the county’s 10th annual ceremony and parade.

Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, served as the keynote speaker. He praised the veterans as well as their families for their sacrifices. “A grateful nation can never, ever say ‘thank you’ enough,” he said.

That ceremony included several flyovers, as well as keepsakes for the parade’s eight grand marshals: Peter “Scotty” Burns, Robert Gilbert, Otto Rigan, Alfred Gamboni, Judge Brown, Navpreet Sandher, Lyniece Brooks and Mary “Josi” Fragnito.

Crowds of people also huddled along Main Street to watch nearly 60 parade entries that included middle and high school marching bands, classic car clubs and dancing horses, to name a few.

Phillip Sargent of Atwater stood in Bob Hart Square with son Evan, as they waited for the Merced procession to roll by. Sargent, 36, said he’d been to many of the parades from the past decade, which he said were a good effort to gather people to honor those who have served.

“They sacrificed everything for us,” he said. “I don’t think one day is enough for them.”

Evan, 9, who was eating a piece of candy, said he wanted to honor veterans because “they took the risk” by fighting overseas. “I like to really see the veterans here,” he said.

This story was originally published November 11, 2014 at 6:36 PM with the headline "Thousands salute veterans at Merced events."