Area cities, residents honor veterans

Parade and ceremonies honors American service men and women

VANCOUVER — Expectant crowds braved the morning drizzle on Officers Row and Vancouver’s streets to honor American veterans Saturday. A cannon shot sounded on the grounds of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, and signaled the beginning of the 31st annual Lough Legacy Veterans Parade.

Members of the Volcano A’s Model A Ford Club brought decked out their Model A Fords in American flags to honor veterans Saturday at the Veterans Day Parade in Vancouver. Photo by Mike Schultz
Members of the Volcano A’s Model A Ford Club brought decked out their Model A Fords in American flags to honor veterans Saturday at the Veterans Day Parade in Vancouver. Photo by Mike Schultz

Prior to the parade, a ceremony was held honoring veterans at the Providence Academy. The beginning of the parade also coincided with the beginning of the Veterans Day Race to Remember, a running race that honors and remembers veterans.

The parade is hosted by The Historic Trust, a local nonprofit that works to preserve and manage portions of the Fort Vancouver Historic Site. Toni Wise, marketing and communications manager for The Historic Trust, said that the Veterans Day parade helps local residents recognize the close ties to military history the local region has.

The Vancouver Fire Department provided a color guard and fire engine to help celebrate Veterans Day on Saturday in Vancouver during the parade. Photo by Mike Schultz
The Vancouver Fire Department provided a color guard and fire engine to help celebrate Veterans Day on Saturday in Vancouver during the parade. Photo by Mike Schultz

The parade featured many different organizations. Local veterans organizations, such as Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, Northwest Battle Buddies and Clark County Gold Star Families marched in the parade.

Numerous Boy and Girl Scout Troops participated. Several bands from local high schools, as well as the Battle Ground and Prairie Air Force Junior ROTC programs, also marched.

The Veterans Day Parade in Vancouver was led by the color guard for the 142nd Fighter Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard. Photo by Mike Schultz
The Veterans Day Parade in Vancouver was led by the color guard for the 142nd Fighter Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard. Photo by Mike Schultz

Local businesses such as Wells Fargo and The Vancouver Clinic turned out to support veterans, as did numerous clubs and organizations, such as the Clark County Flying Eagle A’s Ford Model A Club and the 1st Oregon Volunteer Infantry and 1st Oregon Volunteer Cavalry, an organization that researches and preserves Civil War history.

In all, 112 separate groups and organizations participated in the Veterans Day Parade.

Navy veteran Keith Dugger said he attended Vancouver’s Veterans Day Parade Saturday to recognize the service of other veterans. Photo by Mike Schultz
Navy veteran Keith Dugger said he attended Vancouver’s Veterans Day Parade Saturday to recognize the service of other veterans. Photo by Mike Schultz

Attendees lined the parade route to show their support for American veterans. Vancouver resident David Alt held a sign thanking veterans for their service.

“I can’t say it loud enough or often enough,” Alt said, expressing thanks for the sacrifices of American veterans.

The 1st Oregon Volunteer Infantry is a group devoted to researching and preserving Civil War history, and made an appearance at the Veterans Day Parade on Saturday. Photo by Mike Schutlz
The 1st Oregon Volunteer Infantry is a group devoted to researching and preserving Civil War history, and made an appearance at the Veterans Day Parade on Saturday. Photo by Mike Schutlz

Air Force veteran Brian Burks attended the parade with his wife Gail. The 2017 parade was the first time they had attended the event. Burks said that he has “a lot of friends and past family members” that have served.

The parade and the support shown for veterans “kind of means a lot,” Burks said.

Vancouver resident David Alt came out to the Vancouver Veterans Day Parade Saturday to express gratitude for those who have served. Photo by Mike Schultz
Vancouver resident David Alt came out to the Vancouver Veterans Day Parade Saturday to express gratitude for those who have served. Photo by Mike Schultz

Another veteran watching the parade was Navy veteran Keith Dugger. He has been attending the parade for three or four years, and said he came Saturday “just to recognize all the other veterans and thank them for their service.”

“It’s really nice to see the big participation,” Dugger said.

The Clark County Flying Eagle A’s Ford Model A Club entered a fleet of Ford Model A’s into the Veterans Day Parade in Vancouver on Saturday. Photo by Mike Schultz
The Clark County Flying Eagle A’s Ford Model A Club entered a fleet of Ford Model A’s into the Veterans Day Parade in Vancouver on Saturday. Photo by Mike Schultz

Battle Ground holds Veterans Day Ceremony

On Fri., Nov. 10, the city of Battle Ground held its third annual ceremony honoring veterans at the Community Center.

The ceremony was led by Battle Ground Mayor and Army veteran Philip Johnson.

Local residents gather in Vancouver and Battle Ground to honor American veterans at a parade and several ceremonies.
Local residents gather in Vancouver and Battle Ground to honor American veterans at a parade and several ceremonies.

At the ceremony, veterans present were recognized by the conflicts in which they served, and the branch of military in which they served. Each veteran was asked to stand and give their name, service branch and years served.

The poem “In Flanders Fields” was read by Council Member Mike Dalesandro. After the poem, members of Boy Scout Troop 441 read the names of the 31 Battle Ground residents who lost their lives serving their country in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The ceremony concluded with the playing of “Taps” by Chief Warrant Officer Al Pefley, Commander of the 204th Army Band.

The Battle Ground and Prairie High School’s Junior Air Force ROTC organizations marched in Saturday’s Veterans Day Parade in Vancouver. Photo by Mike Schultz
The Battle Ground and Prairie High School’s Junior Air Force ROTC organizations marched in Saturday’s Veterans Day Parade in Vancouver. Photo by Mike Schultz
The Camas High School band was one of several marching bands that made an appearance at the Veterans Day Parade Saturday. Photo by Mike Schultz
The Camas High School band was one of several marching bands that made an appearance at the Veterans Day Parade Saturday. Photo by Mike Schultz
The 204th Army Band marched in the Veterans Day Parade in Vancouver on Saturday, providing patriotic music for the festivities. Photo by Mike Schultz
The 204th Army Band marched in the Veterans Day Parade in Vancouver on Saturday, providing patriotic music for the festivities. Photo by Mike Schultz
American flags were proudly displayed by many groups of marchers in the Veterans Day Parade in Vancouver on Saturday. Photo by Mike Schultz
American flags were proudly displayed by many groups of marchers in the Veterans Day Parade in Vancouver on Saturday. Photo by Mike Schultz
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