Joe Pellegrino knows freedom carries an extremely high cost.

He served America during two tours in Vietnam while part of his military career included being a few steps away from the President with an attaché case carrying the nuclear launch codes cuffed to his wrist.

“A lot of people have died for that flag and what it represents,” Pellegrino said.

It is why 10 years ago the retired Army lieutenant colonel was mulling the idea of trying to get perhaps a thousand or so flags to fly along Manteca streets on various holidays. Pellegrino at the time was the executive director of the Manteca Chamber of Commerce.

Several months later the terrorist attacks on America occurred on Sept. 11, 2001. Within weeks, Pellegrino pressed forward with his dream. The response was overwhelming. Within two months, the chamber has collected $60,000 to purchase 2,400 flags. While there were many sizeable donations from firms such as PG&E, Doctors Hospital, Raymus Development, and AKF Development well over 700 people paid $25 each to sponsor a flag with many being dedicated in honor of loved ones who had served America.

Since then, Flags Over Manteca has become the chamber’s marquee community project involving a small army of volunteers at least eight times a year to place and collect the flags.

“I’m a very patriotic man,” Pellegrino said. “This is my country. I believe in everything it (the flag) stands for.”

Pellegrino has flown a flag in front of his home ever since he launched his military career.

Pellegrino is being honored as the grand marshal of this year’s Manteca Chamber of Commerce twilight Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 4, for his role in making Flags Over Manteca a reality. The theme this year is “Let it Snow.”

At first Pellegrino wasn’t too sure that he wanted to do it.

“There are a lot of other deserving people,” Pellegrino said.

It’s been an interesting journey for the 71-year-old Pellegrino who was born and raised in Dunsmuir near Mt. Shasta. He played guard and linebacker at Weed High. From there he went to Oregon State where he played the same positions for the Beavers’ football team.

It was at Oregon State where a military science course was part of the requirements that Pellegrino decided on a career in the military.

“I realized I was too small to play football after college,” he said.

That is when he decided to join the ROTC. He graduated from Oregon State in 1962.

Pellegrino earned his master’s degree in Public Administration from the Central Michigan University.

After basic training at Ford Ord, Pellegrino was selected to attend the elite Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Va. He represented the Army specializing in Joint Service Strategic Planning and Special Operations.

He went as a second lieutenant to Vietnam in 1966 where he ended up serving two tours as a U.S. Army Rifle Company commander and South Vietnam Army advisor. He was a highly decorated officer receiving the Combat Infantry badge, the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

Following Vietnam he was assigned to various military schools including serving as a professor of military science at Arizona State.

While assigned to the Strategic Air Command in Washington, D.C., Pellegrino flew in support of Presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, the Secretary of Defense, and top-level military and civilian authorities of the Department of Defense and Federal Emergency Administration, and the White House. His primary responsibility was the handling and security of sealed authenticators for the National Command Authority involving nuclear launch codes while flying aboard the U.S. Presidential support aircraft. The NCA consists of the president, the vice-president, the Secretary of Defense, selected service chiefs and civilian cabinet members. He received the Joint Chiefs of Staff Service Badge.

He was one of the military officers who were cuffed to “the football” - the attaché case carrying the nuclear codes - who stayed in close proximity with the president whenever he traveled. It was a job he did for four and a half years serving both Presidents Carter and Reagan.

While serving in Korea, Pellegrino was the Inspector General for the U.S. Army I Corp. He monitored and ensured the combat readiness for both the United States and Korean military forces deployed along the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ). He was awarded the Korea Service Medal.

While serving as secretary to the General’s Staff, 6th U.S. Army Headquarters at the Presidio in San Francisco he was responsible for the coordination and tasking of Army support units for the 1984 Olympic Games and Democratic National Convention.

His last assignment before his retirement was as commander of Camp Parks in Dublin where he retired.

While living in the Presidio, Pellegrino and his high school sweetheart Patricia - whom he married in 1960 - were looking for a place close to The City, close to their relatives north of Redding and close to the Sierra. They came to Manteca where they met Duke Dutra who sold them their home in the custom neighborhood north of the Manteca Golf Course.
“We knew this is where we were going to stay,” said Pellegrino as his family had moved 19 times during his 26-year military career.

All three daughters who were living back East - Lori, JoAnn and Cary - asked if they intended to move again. When their parents said no, two moved to Manteca and the other to Ripon.

On most Sundays they still have traditional Italian dinners that also include their nine grandkids.

Prior to working as chamber executive director from 2001 to 2003, Pellegrino spent 13 years as director of transportation for the City of Tracy.

He has served as athletic director at St. Anthony’s School for the past 11 years and is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

It was through the Knights of Columbus  that Les Thomas - who has organized the flag distribution from day one  - stepped up to oversee taking flags in and out of storage each time they are placed along city streets.

He noted that John Perez handled the assembly of hardware while Dan Luna lacquered the flag poles. The late Charlie Giles of Mountain Valley Express donated a trailer to store the flags and to help set it up.

Pellegrino recalled no one turned him down when he asked for donations to buy the flags except for three individuals. But then after the effort gained momentum each of those three called back on their own and said they wanted to donate.

“It’s great to see the young kids get up early and get out there putting the flags out,” he said. “It’s great to see everybody do it but knowing the kids understand that the flag is important means a lot.”

Pellegrino said he knows of people who drive to Manteca from as far away as Sacramento whenever the flags are out so they can drive down the streets and see them.

The flags have been used for something that Pellegrino never envisioned - lining the streets of Manteca for the funeral procession of Marine Cpl Charles Palmer who was killed serving America in Iraq - as well as to greet a returning National Guard troop.

“It’s great that they (the chamber) did that,” Pellegrino said. “It means a lot to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of those who serve.”