2024 Veterans Ceremony Slated
The 2024 Veterans Day Ceremony is on Thursday, November 7, at 11:30 a.m. in front of the Veterans Peace Memorial. This year’s ceremony commemorates the 31st anniversary of the memorial’s dedication. All veterans are invited to attend and be honored. The community is also welcome to attend.
While all veterans are honored at the event, each year, Fresno City College gives special recognition to a particular group. This year, the ceremony will recognize the Gulf War Veterans.
The keynote speaker this year is Fresno County Sheriff Deputy Paul Haros. After high school, he enlisted into the Army where he served in Operation Desert Shield/Storm with the 82nd Airborne Division. After two years he was assigned to the Berlin Brigade and deployed to the Republic of Macedonia serving as a Peacekeeper with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force. He was then re-assigned back to the 82nd Airborne Division where in 1994 he was part of Operation Uphold Democracy. He remained with the 82nd Airborne Division until 1995 when he exited active duty. Upon his exit from active duty, he enlisted into the California Army National Guard. In 2008 he deployed back to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He retired from military service in 2014.
The event will also posthumously recognize former Public Information Officer, Kathy Bonilla with the 2024 Citizen Soldier Award. She served the college with distinction for over 32 years and was the longest standing member of the Veterans Day Memorial Committee. The ceremony will also include bagpipes, the presentation of a memorial wreath, a rifle salute, and echo Taps.
Veterans Peace Memorial
2024 marks the 31st anniversary of the Veterans Peace Memorial at Fresno City College. The memorial was dedicated on November 9, 1993, after three years of planning, fundraising, and construction. The memorial was placed on the grassy knoll in what is now known as Veterans Square. The monument is surrounded on three sides by the “Court of Honor,” which was dedicated on May 3, 1995. The “Court” displays memorial plaques and benches. The “Court of Honor” is an appropriate reminder of the wars and conflicts fought by our citizen-soldiers to preserve our freedom.
