WWII Veterans: The Reason for our first Parade of Champions—Remembering our Front-line Heroes!

Each year the nonprofit Santa Clara Parade of Champions celebrates our champions, community and front-line heroes—a tradition dating back to 1945. The world was in its darkest place, and the WWII impacts were felt everywhere even in little Santa Clara. The community who couldn’t fight in the war, many women, children and elderly, focused on growing victory gardens, working long shifts in bay area industries from manufacturing of ships, aeronautics to canned foods, and everything in between, in support of our ally war efforts. The end of the war August 14th was felt around the world. We couldn’t wait to bring home our heroes and reunite our community again. It was the first parade that began an annual tradition of gratitude, honoring our heroes, and recognizing the power of a diverse community through times of war and peace.

Grateful for our Veterans and community who continue to look out for each other for the past 55 years and helping to keep our legacy tradition alive for the next generations to come. Thank you for your service!

Join our community of volunteers who volunteer year-round on projects and events! We offer youth internships and volunteer community hours. Our nonprofit also raises funds in support of our charitable initiatives of Youth Scholarships, Veterans and families facing medical crisis.

To get involved or learn more, just sign up at www.scparadeofchampions.org

The 55th SC Parade of Champions on Oct 5th 2024.  Photos Courtesy of Portuguese Tribune Journal