PLEASANTON — Richard Pittman has been invited to speak at hundreds of parades and ceremonies honoring veterans.

However, in the more than 30 years that the Vietnam veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient has been speaking nationwide, he has never been a part of one to specifically honor the Marines, his former branch of the military.

That will change Sunday when Pittman, 64, will be the keynote speaker at the Veterans of Pleasanton's 13th annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony.

"It's the first time I have been involved where the theme has been the Marine Corps," said Pittman, a Stockton native. "I think it's a great idea. Most communities as a whole refer to everyone as the military.

"The parade in Pleasanton is great for the community. It gives a little insight to what each service is and does."

Pittman spent more than two decades in the Marines and received the Congressional Medal of Honor after risking his life to save many of his fellow troops' lives during a 1966 mission.

"I consider many we honor to be heroes," said Dave Ham, one of the parade organizers and himself a Vietnam veteran. "It is humbling to me, to be able to do something for these veterans."

This year's parade and ceremony begins at 1 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Hall, 301 Main St. The parade route will head north along Main Street to St. Mary's Street, then take a left on St. Mary's before heading left on Peters Avenue. It then will

Pleasanton's event kicks off a string of Veterans Day activities throughout the Tri-Valley. The parade will include nearly 100 units, including military, veteran and police color guards.

Organizers of the event are calling it the largest veterans' parade in Alameda County. Ham has helped organize the event for the past eight years. The group honored the Air Force last year and the Coast Guard the year before.

The event honoring the Marines will take place nine days before the military branch celebrates its 234th birthday. With the Marine Corps' birthday on Nov. 10, it was one reason Ham and the planning committee decided to have the event Sunday, to not conflict with Marine balls scheduled the following week.

This year also will be the first time the parade has officially paired with Toys for Tots. The Veterans of Pleasanton, United State Marine Corp and P-Town Pushrod Car Club are asking all parade attendees to bring a new toy to be donated to the cause.

Pleasanton Mayor Jennifer Hosterman, Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena, Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty and U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, all are scheduled to speak.

Robert Jordan covers Dublin and Pleasanton. Reach him at 925-847-2184.