On Saturday, November 9th and Monday, November 11th, the City Fillmore will honor its Veterans with its annual Veterans Day parade and celebration. Saturday will be the Concert in the Park from 4pm to 7pm at 250 Central Avenue. With live music put on by the Veterans Day Celebration Committee. On Monday, November 11th, there will be a Veterans Day parade at 10am from 2nd Street to Santa Clara, with a BBQ to follow and a ceremony at Fillmore Middle School at 1pm with music and speakers, as well as a salute to the military branches.

This year’s Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal is Reynaldo Luis “Willie” Rivera. Reynaldo was born in Santa Paula and was raised in Fillmore. His uncle, Frank Borrego, a World War II Veteran who fought in the European theatre, saw Reynaldo right after birth and immediately gave him the nickname Willie. That nickname was in honor of Frank’s best friend Willie who was killed in action. He attended Fillmore elementary schools, junior high and high school. After graduating from Fillmore High School, Willie worked at the Van Nuys General Motors Plant building Chevrolets and Pontiacs.

Willie was drafted in June of 1965 and sent to Ft. Polk, Louisiana for basic training. He completed basic training and won the Physical Combat Proficiency Test. He was then sent to Ft. Gordon, Georgia for Military Police (MP), where he was recognized as the best pistol shooter in his company. After completing training, Willie was assigned to the 534 MP Company in Panama where he served under the two best officers in the US Army, Lt. Wills, Commanding Officer, and Lt. Rogers, Executive Officer. As a Spanish speaker Willie was able to assimilate with the local population and culture and has fond memories of Panama, a beautiful country.

He was selected to do the news in Spanish on the Armed Forces Radio and TV Network. Willie was even offered the chance to go to West Point but turned it down as it would mean additional years of service.

Willie landed in Vietnam’s Tan Son Nhut airport and was assigned to Charlie Company of the 716 MP Battalion in Saigon. His tours in Louisiana and Panama enabled him to easily endure the extreme heat and humidity in Vietnam. Willie’s duties as an MP included patrolling the city on foot and by jeep, escorting convoys, guarding installations, assisting the Air Police at Tan Son Nhut and more. Willie also guarded Bob Hope, Jayne Mansfield, Nancy Sinatra and other celebrities there with the USO. The 716th MP Battalion earned the nickname Saigon Warriors for successfully defending the city during TET on January 31, 1968. Twenty-Seven MPs were lost that day and 44 wounded.

After being discharged in 1967, Willie graduated from San Jose State with the assistance of the GI Bill which enabled him to have successful careers in civil service. He has been married to Patricia (De Los Santos) for 55 years and is blessed to have three children and five grandchildren.

Looking back on his service, Willie can truly say it was an adventure and sometimes good except for Army food. Whenever Willie had a chance, he would eat at Air Force and Navy mess halls as their food was 5 stars compared to the Army slop. “To all my brothers who served, I salute you for what we endured and suffered and continue to do so because of our service”.