Wednesday events will honor US military

by Mark Morey
Yakima Herald-Republic

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YAKIMA, Wash. -- Marines and soldiers will carry banners recognizing their fallen comrades, including several from the Yakima Valley, in the city's Veterans Day parade on Wednesday.

Organizers say it is the first time the banners have been presented in the Yakima parade, which runs down Yakima Avenue, from Naches Avenue to Sixth Avenue.

The parade starts at 10:45 a.m.

There will be 43 banners, each including the photo, name, military branch, hometown and dates of birth and death for a military member from Washington who has been killed in the current Middle East wars.

More than 160 Marines, soldiers and other personnel with ties to Washington have been killed since 2003; 10 of them have had ties to the Yakima Valley.

Carolyn Hope of Yakima, a member of the ladies auxiliary for the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Yakima, arranged for the banners to be shipped here for the parade.

"When you are in the room with them, you can't help but shed a tear or two -- or more," said Hope, who saw some of the banners posted at a VFW convention in Yakima earlier this year.

The banners will be carried by members of Bravo Company of the Marine Corps Reserve's 4th Tank Battalion and two Army units based at the Yakima Training Center, the 53rd Explosive Ordnance Detachment and the YTC Army Air Ambulance Detachment.

The banner project was started by the mother of a Spokane Marine killed in Iraq and promoted by the VFW ladies auxiliary. Members hope to prepare a banner for each person killed in action.

"I'm so proud that we are able to do this here in Yakima," Hope said. Her son served in the Navy, and her late husband served in the Army during World
War II in Germany.

The post will also be open to the public on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday for viewing the memorial banners. At 11 a.m. Sunday, Bravo Company members will present a roll call ceremony.

Other public events Wednesday around the Valley are:

* Veterans Day observance, 1 p.m. at the Korean/Vietnam monument at Sarg Hubbard Park in Yakima. Speakers, 21-gun salute and Taps.

* Prosser Veterans Day Parade, starting at 11 a.m. from Keene-Riverview Elementary School, 832 Park Ave. The parade circles through town and returns to the school.

* Ellensburg Veterans Day Parade, starting at 11 a.m. from Seventh Avenue and Pine Street, proceeding south for several blocks and returning up Pearl Street.

* Veterans Day memorial ceremony, Grandview. 6 p.m. at the VFW post, 132 Division St. Speakers, 21-gun salute and Taps.

 

* Mark Morey can be reached at 509-577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.



Commentsicon2
Posted by Nick at 11/09/09 04:55AM        Post ID#: #17504

What a cool deal. I'll see you there.

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Posted by huh at 11/09/09 06:45AM        Post ID#: #17512

Unfortunately Nick, commercial, corporate America works on this holiday. Will be tinking of all the patriots though.

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