The 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival started off like any other with Gilory’s DAR Gabilan chapter, along with friends and family members pitching in to support a local festival that benefits many community organizations. The Gabilan chapter’s volunteer hours bring in monies to support veterans and college scholarship programs.

Our volunteers work tirelessly for five hours on their feet to quickly train cashiers to take food orders at Gourmet Alley. The sound of knives chopping basil, and fire glazed pans sizzle as the smell of garlic permeates the surroundings. Two days had passed with some Daughters working twelve hours each day through the heat and dust ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Fast forward to Sunday, July 28, 2019 and another normal volunteer day. Then before the close at the end of the festival, pandemonium broke out. Shots were heard as they echoed through the ranch side of Gourmet Alley. Many would run while others could only duck and cover.

As our brave crew huddled and waited for evacuation orders, they consoled each other and also very frightened young people. Upon request to evacuate, our team picked up and secured the cash boxes before boarding buses to safety.

Gabilan Chapter Regent, Laura Bravo, stated, “I am very proud of our team for staying together, helping each other, and completing their responsibilities before leaving the scene. They went above and beyond their duty. With all this being said, we are very thankful that they are all safe. My sincerest thank you to our brave crew”.

Photo top: Lisa Nantais (DAR festival co-lead), Donna Santistevan, Regent – Los Altos, Gerald Wright, Mary Anders (DAR festival co-lead), Laura Bravo, Regent, Gabilan

Photo below: Scott Nantais, Lisa Nantais, Shelley Ware