EVENTS

MEMORIAL DAY

There are a number of stories regarding the origin of Memorial Day.  Some claim the custom of honoring war dead began in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania on May 30, 1864 when a teenage girl placed flowers on the grave of her father.  At the cemetery she exchanged memories with another mourner who had brought wild flowers to the grave of her son.  A year later they were joined at the cemetery by many townsfolk who had taken flowers to the cemetery and decorated every grave.  The custom spread and women and men of both the North and the South decorated graves of both Northern and Southern battle dead in several states.

Others claim the custom was originated by some Southern women who placed flowers on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers after the Civil War.  Another claim is that the first Memorial Day service took place on May 30, 1866 on Belle Isle in the St. James River at Richmond, Virginia.

In 1966, the United States Government proclaimed Waterloo, New York the birthplace of Memorial Day where, on the 5th of May 1865, the people of Waterloo honored soldiers who died in the Civil War.

However, it was on the 5th of May 1868 that the third Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), General John A. Logan, published General Order Number 11 that specifically set aside the 30th of May as the day to honor the sacrifices of the soldiers and sailors who saved the Union.  Today that day is officially called Memorial Day.

John A. Logan

Each year, on the Monday designated by the Government as Memorial Day, The United Veterans Council (UVC) of Santa Clara County conducts a ceremony at the Veteran’s burial Plot at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California.  Local Boy Scouts place approximately 3,600 American flags at the headstones of veterans of all wars in six burial plots at Oak Hill.  In addition to the Veterans Plot, the Field of Honor, and the Spanish American War Plot, flags are placed at the two GAR plots and the Civil War Women’s Relief Corps GAR Auxiliary Burial Plot.

In addition to the posting of Colors and Memorial Service, the UVC Ceremony includes a wreath laying ceremony.

United Veterans Council Memorial Day Wreath Laying

FLAG DAY

On the 14th of June each year, delegates to the United Veterans Council of Santa Clara County, participate in the Annual Santa Clara County Flag Day Ceremony in downtown San Jose.  The Ceremony includes the raising of seven historic flags dating from 1778 in addition to the current 50-star flag.

VETERANS DAY

Each year, since 1919, the United Veterans Council (UVC) of Santa Clara County has produced a Veterans Day Parade with support form the City of San Jose and the County of Santa Clara, along with contributions from many individuals and organizations. This Parade, the largest Veterans Day Parade in Northern California, honors all who served, or are currently serving their country. 

The Opening Ceremony for the Veterans Day Parade begins on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month with a memorial ceremony at Plaza Cesar de Chavez on Market Street in honor of the 1918 Armistice of the “War to End All Wars.”

The Parade steps off at 12:00 Noon in Downtown San Jose from Delmas Street and travels east along Santa Clara to Market Street.  The Parade then proceeds south on Market, passing the reviewing stand at Park Street, opposite Plaza Cesar de Chavez, and ends at San Carlos Street.

A Parade entrance application may be obtained through submission of a request to:

VETERANS DAY PARADE
c/o Upbeat Parade Productions
5320 Cedar Grove Circle
San Jose, California 95123
upbeatparades@aol.com

PARADE GUIDELINES
download MS-Word file