But what about the active-duty personnel or veterans in your circle of family and friends ? Try a more personal tribute with a banner , brick , medallion or wreath .

Hometown Hero banners , a program initiated by Nissan of Gilroy manager Brian Verdin , features 24 ” by 52 ” color banners of local veterans placed on light poles in downtown Gilroy . This program was started on Veterans Day 2022 with six banners . Eleven more were added in 2023 and the hope is to continue to add more and display them in May for Memorial Day and November for Veterans Day . Email sscvmd @ gmail . com or call the Gilroy Veterans Hall at 408-842-3838 for more information .

Commemorative bricks , coordinated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars John A . Berry Post # 6309 , are located at the Gilroy Veterans Memorial on the Ranch Site of Christmas Hill Park . The monument features the logos of the six branches of military service , three flag poles and more than 600 bricks honoring local veterans . The brick pavers cost $ 75 and can include up to two lines of 20 spaces each . Pavers typically include the veteran ’ s name , branch of service and dates served . Paver applications are available at the Gilroy Veterans Hall .

Another way to honor and celebrate a local veteran , who is deceased , is to make sure their headstone includes wording or symbols identifying the individual as a veteran . It can include their branch of service , rank and / or war . Without these markings volunteers can ’ t mark their gravesite with a flag for Memorial Day , Veterans Day and Wreaths Across America .

But don ’ t worry , if a headstone already exists and doesn ’ t include any military designation , a bronze medallion can be purchased to mark an existing , privately purchased headstone , marker , crypt or niche . Email sscvmd @ gmail . com or call the Gilroy Veterans Hall at 408-842-3838 for more information .

Finally , to make sure the Wreaths Across America tradition continues in South County , consider donating to the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce . The chamber coordinates the efforts to place the more than 1,200 wreaths at Gilroy ’ s Gavilan Hills Memorial Park and St . Mary Cemetery and Morgan Hill ’ s Mount Hope Memorial Park . Sponsoring a single wreath only costs $ 17 .

But ultimately the best way to thank a veteran is with the gift of time . Be there for them . Sit and listen to their stories when they ’ re ready to talk . You ’ ll be surprised at the gift you receive .

Christine West is the Executive Director of the The South Santa Clara Valley Memorial District ( SSCVMD ). She is responsible for serving the District ’ s board of directors , managing the maintenance , repair and remodeling of the Veteran ' s Memorial Building and Hall ., and marketing the hall to veterans and the general public . She has a bachelor ’ s degree in journalism from Utah State University and a master ’ s degree in mass communications from the University of Denver .

Christine West , Executive Director , Gilroy Veterans Hall - 74 W 6th Street # A : 408-842-3838 christine @ sscvMemorialDistrict . org ( please call for appointment )

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