MARIN COUNTY’S annual Veterans Day ceremony brought hundreds of people out to the Exhibit Hall at the Marin County Fairgrounds in San Rafael on Tuesday.
The celebration of local veterans and commemoration of all service members was hosted by the Marin County United Veterans Council and led by president Sean Stephens, a four-tour combat veteran. The county sponsored the event to honor all who served in the U.S. military with a particular focus on Marin’s own local servicemembers. Veterans who served in recent overseas conflicts were invited to attend alongside survivors of the Korean and Vietnam wars.
This Veterans Day took place 24-hours after the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps and it also marked the 107th anniversary of the conclusion of World War I. The armistice agreement that ended the war was signed in the 11th hour of Nov. 11 in 1918.
Performances by the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Non-Marching Band, also known as the Sewer Band, and the Marin Barbershop Chorus filled the room with traditional songs. The honor guard performed a presentation of colors to the sounds of a bagpipe as they walked across ceremonial wreaths donated by various organizations. Each veterans group and local elected officials were recognized during the ceremony.
Guests enjoyed complimentary coffee and doughnuts before the ceremony, and then made their way out to a picnic area where hotdogs and hamburgers were served free of charge thanks to an anonymous donation. Vintage military vehicles from the Joe Garbarino collection were parked outside of the Exhibit Hall.
The Marin County Department of Health and Human Services offers support for veterans at 10 North San Pedro Road in San Rafael in addition to the Veterans Affairs Vet Center for the 8,000 veterans living in the county.
