Superintendent's Weekly Message: Honoring Our Heroes on Veterans Day |
|
Nov. 11, 2020
Dear San Benito High School Parents, Students and Community:
As we pause today, Nov. 11, to thank all of the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country through the armed services, we want to recognize some of the local veterans with connections to San Benito High School. We know that this is, by no means, a complete list, so we want to make sure that all of those who have given of their time and talents to protect our country -- as well as their families -- know that we are deeply appreciative of them on this Veterans Day and every day that we enjoy the freedoms made possible by their service.
Sincerely,
San Benito High School District Superintendent Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum
|
|
Cheri Cosio's Family
SBHS attendance clerk Cheri Cosio’s family has a long history of service to the country, including her grandfather, D.C. Townsend, who served in the Army; her father and Army veteran, Bob (a Baler 1961 alumnus); her uncle, Bill Townsend, who attended SBHS and was a Purple Heart recipient for his service in Vietnam; Uncle Gilbert Cosio Sr. (Class of ‘53); who served in the Army; Uncle Richard Cosio (Class of ‘56), who served in the Air Force; Uncle Joseph “Butch” Cosio (Class of ‘66), who served in the Army; and Ms. Cosio’s son, Jared S. Lantis, a 2011 SBHS grad who has served in the Navy since 2014.
|
|
Nashia Alvarez
The 2003 SBHS graduate served nine years in the U.S. Army and is an Iraq War veteran. She currently is a nurse and her sister, Nicole Alvarez, teaches math at San Benito High School.
|
|
|
Bernie Ramirez
The U.S. Army Vietnam veteran is a Hollister native and married to his wife, Palmira, for 49 years. Their three children, Elaine, Alex and Adriana, are all SBHS graduates. Mr. Ramirez is a past commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9242 and currently serves as the VFW’s Honor Guard captain, SBHS Scholarship Committee chairman, chairman of the “I Care Soldier Package” Committee, and serves as one of three VFW trustees.
|
|
Rob Zimmerman
San Benito High School’s Construction Manager served with the Army as an Airborne Ranger, the Army’s Special Forces Command.
|
|
Williams Family
San Benito High School alumna Katelyn Williams said she “wanted to take this opportunity to thank and recognize my family for their service." Her parents, Carl and Aubrey Williams, are both U.S. Army veterans. Her father is a combat veteran who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Her late grandfather, James Williams, was a U.S. Army veteran and her grandfather Jesse Barrientos, was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. “I would also like to thank other veterans for their service,” Ms. Williams stated.
|
|
Manuel Chavez
The 1966 SBHS alumnus married his high school sweetheart, Christine Rodriguez, and they have been married for 51 years. All five of their children, including Baler P.E. teachers Marlene Villegas and Maxine Cunningham, are alumni.
Mr. Chavez volunteered for the draft and started his military experience in July of 1966, doing a 13-month tour in South Korea on the demilitarized zone. He also spent a year in Erlangen, Germany with the 3/51st mechanized infantry 4th Armored Division, followed by more time in Vietnam.
Mr. Chavez previously coached football, baseball and softball at San Benito High School.
|
|
Adam Mendolla
The Hollister native, U.S. Army Vietnam veteran, and SBHS alumnus from the class of 1967 is married to Mimi. Their two children, Adam and Jenny, are Baler alums as well and their grandchildren attend SBHS – Téa Rose is a senior and Michael is a sophomore. Mr. Mendolla currently serves as VFW Post 9242 Junior Vice Commander and is a member of the VFW Scholarship Committee.
|
|
Joseph Casarez
The Desert Storm veteran graduated from San Benito High School in 1988.
|
|
Chuck and Maria Spandri
Hollister residents since 1999, the Spandris have two children who graduated from SBHS (Amanda ‘15 and Melyssa ‘18), as well as current senior, Eric. Mr. Spandri is a veteran of the U.S. Navy submarine service and says he is “proudly still serving today” as the adjutant of Hollister’s VFW Post 9242 and member of their Honor Guard and VFW SBHS Scholarship Committee.
Mrs. Spandri, a U.S Air Force and Desert Storm veteran, is the senior vice commander of VFW Post 9242 and is involved with the VFW’s Honor Guard, VFW Scholarship Committee, and is the VFW Boy Scout Charter Org Representative/Committee Chair. She has assisted with various San Benito High school events such as serving as a dance chaperone, liaison for the county to have the carnival at Vets Park, fundraisers, graduation committees, Sober Grad committee, Senior Parent Nights and ASB banquets.
|
|
Dale Barnes
The U.S. Marine Vietnam veteran and Hollister native graduated from SBHS in 1965. He and his wife, Karen, have two children: Derek (a San Benito High School teacher) and Tiffany. Mr. Barnes' grandchildren have attended, are now attending, or will attend San Benito High School. Mr. Barnes is a member of the VFW Scholarship Committee.
|
|
Pvt. Osten Vargas
The San Benito High School 2019 graduate is an 11B infantryman with the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas.
|
|
Anthony Del Real
The San Benito High School math and social science teacher and education specialist served in the Air Force as a master sergeant.
|
|
Nava Family
The Nava family has a rich history of military service. Patriarch Louie Nava Sr., a Navy veteran, moved to Hollister from Soledad. Hollister native George Nava (SBHS Class of ‘66) is the current commander of Hollister Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9242 and a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran. He and his wife of 51 years, Regina, have four children -- three of whom are SBHS graduates.
Tom Nava (Class of ‘67) also served in the Army, as did David Nava, a member of the Class of 1975. Another member of the family, Nathan Vasquez, served three tours of duty with the Marines in Iraq after graduating from SBHS in 2002.
|
|
Atzin Esquivel Tapia
The 2018 San Benito High School alumnus is a tanker for the U.S. Army at Fort Bliss.
|
|
Dale Eymann
Captain Eymann, who has served in various officer capacities with the Navy, for which he has earned a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and numerous other personal and unit awards, is the father of SBHS 2020 graduate Andrew and current senior Alexander Eymann.
|
|
Sean Barton
The Marine veteran, who served in the first Iraq War, has been a Hollister resident since 2003. He and his wife, Lisa, have three children.
|
|
Ellen Herrera
The retired U.S. Army veteran, a Hollister resident since 2009, has been married to her husband, Santiago, for 32 years. They have two children. Mrs. Herrera is a member of the VFW’s San Benito High School Scholarship Committee, is the Veterans Memorial Building manager and quartermaster for VFW Post 9242.
|
|
Visit Our Family Resources/Reopening Page At the Link Below |
|
San Benito High School, 1220 Monterey St. Hollister, CA 95023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
