San Benito County Local News: Veterans


All Local Veterans News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption:
Celebrating Veterans Every Day

About 1.8 million veterans live in California. Here are some organizations dedicated to serving the needs of those who served America.

Image caption: California is home to many veterans in need of a variety of resources. From housing assistance to mental health services, the Golden State provides avenues to hope and healing.
At Their Service

California‘s veterans are as varied as the nations in which they served—a tapestry of different educational levels, professions, and life experiences. And they all deserve our respect and support.

Image caption: Stand Down events provide veterans with valuable resources including housing assistance, medical care, and a solid community of support.
Veterans in Need ‘Stand Down’

At hundreds of Stand Down events throughout California, veterans agencies and organizations come together to deliver life’s necessities.

Gilroy Dispatch logo From Gilroy Dispatch...

01/10/2024
Image for display with article titled Local Scene: Gilroy Veterans Hall Hosts Benefit Days

The Gilroy Veterans Memorial Hall, 74 West Sixth St., is hosting Veterans Benefit Days on the first and third Fridays of the month through 2024 with extended hours from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Gilroy Dispatch logo From Gilroy Dispatch...

01/10/2024
Image for display with article titled Santa Clara County Appoints New Director of Veterans Services

Darlyn Escalante has been appointed as director of the County of Santa Clara Office of Veterans Services. In her new role, Escalante oversees veteran support services provided by 16 staff members who assist more than 64,000 veterans and their dependents.

California Local Pin Marker From LAist...

12/14/2023
Federal judge David O. Carter has declined to dismiss a lawsuit that could force the Veterans Administration to house veterans experiencing homelessness in the Los Angeles area. Carter’s 41-page ruling could pave the way for a trial in mid-2024.

California Local Pin Marker From Benito Link...

12/08/2023
The Hollister Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9242 hosts its Christmas Potluck Dinner on Dec. 16 at the Veterans’ Memorial Building.

California Local Pin Marker From Benito Link...

10/12/2023
Bernie Ramirez, with the Hollister VFW Post 9242, is raffling handmade Adirondack chairs or a bench (winner’s choice). All proceeds go toward ‘I Care Packages’ the Hollister VFW sends to deployed active-duty military members across the world.

California Local Pin Marker From Monterey Herald...

08/15/2023
The link between PFAS and testicular cancer among service members was never directly proven—until now.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

08/01/2023
Rep. Jimmy Panetta convened a panel of veterans to discuss the Honoring Our PACT Act, which ensures that veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service receive the care they need.

Gilroy Dispatch logo From Gilroy Dispatch...

07/28/2023
Image for display with article titled Veterans Mural Unveiled in Downtown Gilroy

Throughout its existence, the Gilroy Veterans Hall has been relatively nondescript. That changed July 27, when local vets unveiled a massive mural on one side.

California Local Pin Marker From Benito Link...

05/29/2023
Over 1,900 motorcycle riders left Ontario, California, on May 17 for a “Run for the Wall,” taking one of three routes across the United States and arriving on May 26 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor fallen warriors.

California Local Pin Marker From Benito Link...

05/10/2023
A half-dozen speakers at the May 9 Gavilan Board of Trustees used the time for public comment to ask the board to say the Pledge of Allegiance before their proceedings. The comments focused on similar themes, all urging the trustees to reinstate the pledge as an indication of their patriotism and respect for those in the armed services.

California Local Pin Marker From Benito Link...

02/02/2023
Veterans in acute crisis can go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care at no cost—including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days.

SanBenitocom logo From SanBenitocom...

12/22/2022
Image for display with article titled Marine Corps veteran delivers public art

Hollister is more often associated with agriculture and motorcycle rallies than a bustling art scene. However, if you look hard enough while driving throughout the city you might notice a splash of color breaking up the otherwise earth-toned streets.   Adorning the walls of local businesses, and several pieces of city infrastructure, are bold murals depicting [...]

Gilroy Dispatch logo From Gilroy Dispatch...

12/20/2022
Image for display with article titled Morgan Hill resident named to national VFW position

Longtime Morgan Hill resident and Past Commander of the Gilroy Veterans of Foreign Wars post, Alfred Alciati, has been appointed to a prominent position in the national VFW organization.  Alciati, 73, is now the Aide-de-Camp to VFW National Commander-in Chief Tim Borland, says a press release from the VFW. In this capacity, Alciati serves as [...]

SanBenitocom logo From SanBenitocom...

10/05/2022
Image for display with article titled Hollister Native Builds on Seabees’ 80-Year Legacy

Since 1942, sailors assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Construction Force have been building and fighting around the world. Petty Officer 2nd Class Adon Olivares, a Hollister native, is one of those sailors.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz County Sentinel...

07/17/2022
A new nonprofit on the Central Coast looks to ensure safe drinking water and access to waterways for all, particularly those in disadvantaged communities. The fledgling nonprofit is called Waterkeeper Monterey, formerly known as Monterey Coastkeeper.

California Local Pin Marker From Monterey Herald...

05/15/2022
The Military and Veterans Affairs office of Monterey County has a dream: a veterans home located in the county, preferably close to services such as health care while providing much-needed skilled nursing and memory care.

SanBenitocom logo From SanBenitocom...

05/09/2022
Image for display with article titled SBC Foundation Awards Grant for Veterans’ Dental Services

The Community Foundation for San Benito County has awarded a $5,000 grant to Dentistry4Vets, a nonprofit that treats military veterans in need and suffering from a lack of dental care.

California Local Pin Marker From Benito Link...

08/25/2021
The Santa Cruz Veterans Center will provide counseling services at the Hollister Veterans Memorial Building Aug. 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for vets who are troubled by the American military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Bernie Ramirez of VFW Post 9242 said he is pushing to have those services available every Friday.

California Local Pin Marker From Benito Link...

07/26/2021
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6359 is looking for relatives of Sylvester R. Chavez, an infantryman with the 1st Air Cavalry’s 7th Squadron in Vietnam. His mother was Mary Chavez of Watsonville.

California Local Pin Marker From Benito Link...

06/23/2021
Hundreds of thousands of veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and Fourth of July fireworks can be a trigger. Local vets share their experiences with BenitoLink reporter John Chadwell.
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