Two military veterans whose service took them from combat zones overseas to helping their communities at home will be honored Wednesday during Watsonville’s annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony.
Retired Navy Command Master Chief Roland “Doc” Garza, selected as Veteran of the Year by American Legion Post 121, and Marine Corps veteran Jesus J. Ramirez, chosen by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1716, will be recognized for their military careers and their continued dedication to helping others.
The Veterans Day parade begins Nov. 11 at 10am at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Watsonville, followed by a ceremony at the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts from 11am to noon.
The ceremony will feature retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Harry Wiggins, who will present “WWII Operation Magic Carpet: Home Alive by ’45!” about the massive effort to bring American service members home after World War II.
For Garza and Ramirez, the recognition comes after military careers that spanned different generations and branches of the armed forces, but shared a commitment to service that continued long after they took off their uniforms.
A lifetime of service
Garza spent 30 years in the Navy, serving through four wars and participating in humanitarian missions around the world.
Born and raised in McAllen, Texas, he enlisted in 1980 and began his military career as a hospital corpsman at Camp Pendleton, providing medical care to Marines.
His career included assignments aboard several Navy vessels, combat deployments and medical training duties.
He also served as command master chief aboard the USNS Mercy hospital ship during humanitarian missions following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
When he retired in July 2010, Garza had earned numerous military honors, including two Meritorious Service Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and the Combat Action Ribbon.
But retirement did not mean an end to serving others.
After moving to Watsonville from Texas to help his daughter care for her newborn twins, Garza met Korean War veteran Lois Rae Gin, who helped establish a food pantry at the Veterans Memorial Building on East Beach Street.
Gin, now 98, encouraged Garza to volunteer.
“She asked the right guy,” Garza said. “My wife and I stepped up.”
For the past two and a half years, Garza and his wife, Violet, have operated the pantry, providing food, clothing and other necessities to veterans in need.
When Gin and fellow veteran James started the program, it served roughly eight to 12 people weekly. That number has since grown to about 120.
The pantry receives food from Second Harvest Food Bank and serves many Korean and Vietnam War veterans, some now in their 70s and 80s.
Garza said helping those who served before him is a responsibility that does not disappear with retirement.
“When you finish, it’s not over,” he said. “You still got to remember the people that were veterans when you were a young sailor.”
With the Garzas planning a return to Texas, Dawn Collier, who oversees a veterans food pantry in Santa Cruz, is preparing to take over the Watsonville operation.
“You still give back,” Garza said. “Because they’re the ones that helped you when you were first starting out.”
Watsonville roots
For Ramirez, the path to military service began in Watsonville, where he grew up working alongside his father as a painter on weekends and during summer vacations.
Born in March 1982 to Luis and Amelia Ramirez, immigrants from Zacatecas, Mexico, he attended McQuiddy Elementary School, E.A. Hall Middle School and Watsonville High School.
After graduating, Ramirez enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving as an infantryman and attaining the rank of corporal.
His military career included service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism, including a deployment to Iraq.
He earned the Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
After leaving the military, Ramirez attended community college in San Diego before transferring to UC San Diego, where he earned a degree in structural engineering.
He worked for a general contractor for four years before founding JXR Constructors in 2012.
Despite building his career in Southern California, Ramirez has maintained ties to Watsonville, supporting the local VFW post and seeking opportunities to help fellow veterans.
He lives in San Diego with his wife, Hilda, and their three children.
His selection as Veteran of the Year recognizes not only his combat service, but also his continued commitment to the community where he grew up.
A day of recognition
Wednesday’s parade and ceremony will give the community a chance to thank the men and women who served their country, while honoring Garza and Ramirez for their contributions both in and out of uniform.
Their stories are a reminder that for many veterans, service does not end when military duty does.
