The annual ceremony at the Bandstand on the Vancouver Barracks Parade Ground honors men and women who have lost their lives in service of our country

VANCOUVER – The Community Military Appreciation Committee (CMAC) will present Vancouver’s Memorial Day Observance Monday, May 27, at 11 a.m. This annual ceremony at the Bandstand on the Vancouver Barracks Parade Ground honors men and women who have lost their lives in service of our country. Visitors may view the garrison flag raising, Mountain Howitzer cannon firing, and a wreath laying ceremony in honor of fallen heroes. Vancouver’s Memorial Day Observance is free of charge.

CMAC organizes this annual event with the support of its partners: the city of Vancouver, National Park Service (NPS), Clark County, Waste Connections, Northwest Natural Gas, and 40 et 8. For over 170 years, the Vancouver Barracks has been a center for military community. The Vancouver Barracks is now preserved by the National Park Service at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. NPS Facility Manager Alex Patterson shared, “Events like Memorial Day showcase the modern relevance of this historic site, and the enduring connection between the military post and this community.”

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Superintendent Tracy Fortmann said, “the Vancouver Barracks and the Service Members that called this place home, represent a crucial component of this Park’s history. The Vancouver Barracks is much more than just a collection of buildings; they are a visible reminder of our shared 19th and 20th century military history.” Superintendent Fortmann added, “The National Park Service preserves and shares our nation’s history, including the service of the many soldiers and their families.”

Retired Army Colonel Larry J. Smith will be the Master of Ceremonies. Speakers at the event will include Superintendent Tracy Fortmann, Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, with a keynote by wounded combat veteran, Staff Sergeant John Kaiser. There will be special remarks by U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel John Toll, Professor of Military Science at the University of Portland ROTC.  Everleigh Paul, from Liberty Middle School, will sing the National Anthem. Bagpiper, John Goff will play Amazing Grace. There will be a dove release and color guards, as well as military medleys played by the 204th Army Band.

Complimentary light lunch items will be available to the public, courtesy of the Vancouver Lions, Red Cross Cascades Region, and the Military Officers Association of America.-

Parking is available at Hudson’s Bay High School and the National Park Service South Lot (located on 5^th Street), where attendees may ride the dedicated C-Tran shuttle to and from the Bandstand.

CMAC is an all-inclusive group composed of members representing youth, education, civic, military, veterans’ groups, and local governments. CMAC executes and plans community-wide events, such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Our Community Salutes, and POW/MIA Day ceremonies, as well as recognition and support of military families of all services. Learn more about CMAC at www.cmac11.com.

Event Details:

Title: Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony
Location: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Bandstand located on the North parade field.
Date: Monday, May 27, 2024
Time: 11 a.m.