Photo by Ryan Cronk
King City resident Veronica Deniz, who works at the Greenfield Post Office, will lead the July 4 parade in King City.
SOUTH COUNTY — Local veteran Veronica Deniz has been named grand marshal of this year’s Fourth of July Parade in King City.
Originally from Mexico, Deniz came to King City with her family in 1992, where they still reside today. The 35-year-old mother has one son and currently works as a mail carrier at the Greenfield Post Office.
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6747 nominated Deniz, who has been a member of the local organization for just over a year.
Deniz was on active duty for three years in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Kuwait for 10 months between 2003 and 2004. She also served in the reserves for nine months at Fort Hunter Liggett.
Deniz said she was “very honored” that the members of the VFW nominated her, and she encourages more women to join the organization.
The annual Fourth of July Parade, sponsored by Pacific Valley Bank, begins Wednesday, July 4, at 10:30 a.m. The parade route starts at Second Street, runs west along Broadway Street and ends at Mildred Avenue.
After the parade, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be a barbecue with hot dogs, chips and soda for $6 at Krehbiel’s Automotive Repair, 715 Broadway St. All proceeds from the event will go toward VFW Post 6747.
King City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture’s annual fireworks show will take place the night before the holiday, on Tuesday, July 3, at dusk at the Salinas Valley Fair’s Stampede Arena. Admission is $1 per person, or spectators can watch for free at King City Park.
In Greenfield, Fourth of July festivities will begin at 6 p.m. with live music and dancing, food trucks, face painting and other activities for all ages at Patriot Park, followed by the city’s fireworks show at dusk, or about 9 p.m.
