Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeSaturday, Nov. 07, 2009
Many community events planned to honor veterans
By Dalina Castellanos, Herald staff writer
Parades and feasts across the Mid-Columbia will honor veterans starting today.
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 marked the end of World War I, the "war to end all wars." Once known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day has become a day to honor veterans of all wars.
The array of community events to recognize and thank those who have served their country will honor the region's share of the estimated 640,000 Washington residents who are veterans. Here's a listing by community:
Kennewick
w Rep. Brad Klippert, a veteran and former Benton County deputy sheriff, will speak at a ceremony of remembrance at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial at Columbia Park on Wednesday. Rep. Doc Hastings also has been invited to attend the event sponsored by the Tri-Cities Memorial Committee. The eighth annual memorial and celebration will also feature Frank Figueroa, general manager of the mission support alliance at Hanford and a retired Air Force colonel, as keynote speaker.
w The Kennewick Senior Center will have a display of military memorabilia during its Veterans Appreciation Luncheon on Tuesday at 500 S. Auburn St. Preregistration is required for the lunch and cost is $5. To register, visit www.ci.kennewick.wa.us/ Recreational_Services/ registration.asp or call 585-4303.
w Veterans are invited to attend an assembly at Kamiakin High School on Tuesday to honor their service and have a free breakfast. The assembly starts at 8:15 a.m., and breakfast will follow in the library at 9:15 a.m. Veterans can attend one or both events. Those who will be having breakfast are asked to RSVP to 222-5856. Kamiakin High is at 600 N. Arthur St.
Richland
w The Columbia River Young Marines are inviting veterans to their annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner today at 6 p.m. The spaghetti dinner will be at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 2500 Chester Road. The dinner is free for veterans and is open to the public. Donations are accepted.
w The Richland Rehabilitation Center and Eagle Assisted Living will have their fourth annual Veterans Day breakfast Wednesday at 1745 Pike Ave. The breakfast begins at 7 a.m. with a traditional breakfast of biscuits and gravy being served to veterans and their spouses.
w Veterans and their spouses are invited to a Veterans Day breakfast and assembly Tuesday at Jason Lee Elementary School. Activities start at 8:15 a.m. Veterans will be honored for their dedication and service. They're asked to wear their uniforms. Mike Page, a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, will share about his experiences. He is the recipient of a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. For more information, call 967-6475. The school is at 1750 McMurray St.
Pasco
w American Legion Post No. 34 will conduct a Veterans Day Service at Columbia Memorial Cemetery in Pasco on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Mike Black, president of the Columbia Basin Veterans Coalition, will speak. The public is invited to join in honoring all veterans. A late lunch will be served at the American Legion, 1029 W. Sylvester St., after the service at 2:30 p.m.
w Military veterans in the Tri-Cities are invited to a Veterans Day assembly Tuesday at Chiawana High School. Veterans will be honored during the assembly, which starts at 1 p.m. The assembly is being organized by student leaders. Chiawana High is at 8125 W. Argent Road. Veterans are asked to RSVP by calling 543-6786, ext. 5740.
w The Columbia River Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution will recognize veterans during a Veterans Day program at The Tri-Cities Retirement Inn. The Wednesday program will start at 11:30. For more information, call 547-2036. DAR is a nonprofit, non-political volunteer service organization.
w Columbia Basin College student veterans are invited to a Veterans Day celebration Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. Skip Novakovich and Bobby Dale from the Columbia Basin Veterans Coalition will speak about local resources for veterans sponsored by the Columbia Basin College Veterans Alliance. Light refreshments will be served and information on college and community resources will be available for student veterans.
West Richland
w The 10th annual Veterans Day parade sponsored by the West Richland Chamber of Commerce starts at 9:30 a.m. today. Steve Prince, nationally accredited service representative of the Tri-Cities Veterans Coalition, is grand marshal. Combat Veterans International, Chapter 3, will sponsor an awards ceremony and chili feed at Flat Top Park immediately after the parade.
Prosser
w Prosser's fifth annual Thank You Vets parade Wednesday will honor and celebrate local veterans and those on active military duty. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at Keene-Riverview Elementary School.
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