Salinas’ Veterans Day Parade expected to be bigger than ever
The parade will start at Salinas High School and continue down Main Street. Parade organizers are expecting more than 100 entries, and thousands of people to line the streets this Saturday. This year’s grand marshal is a name many of you probably know: A lifelong resident of Monterey County and the former Secretary of Defense and Director of the CIA Leon Panetta. On top of all that, he’s also a veteran.
“It was harder in my own head because I was really intimidated. But with the help of our Congressman Jimmy Panetta, I am not afraid to ask things. And he graciously gave me a call and we met and he said he was honored to be our grand marshal. Which was humbling, but it’s also a testament to our Salinas’ Veterans Day Parade,” said Salinas Veterans Day Parade Chairman, Tony Virrueta.
Tony Virrueta said the parade could not be done without the parade committee — a group of about 15 people, some veterans some not. They meet all year long to make this happen.
The parade starts at 2 p.m. Saturday, and runs from Salinas High to the Steinbeck Center. Organizers suggest you get there early, as more than ten-thousand people are expected to line the streets.
