Communities prepare to remember our fallen heroes with parades, memorial services, and public gatherings.
Michael McCormic Jr.
For Clark County Today
Often times, it becomes all too easy to get caught up in the neighborhood cookout or department store sale on a day intended for solemn remembrance of the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service of our nation. This weekend, as people across the United States celebrate our freedom and mourn its cost, Clark County will be doing the same.
In Amboy, the American Legion Tum Tum Post #168 will sponsor a Memorial Day service at the Amboy Territorial Park. In what the organizers describe as “a memorable and honorable day of remembrance,” the service will feature guest speaker State Representative Liz Pike. The service will begin at 11 a.m.
The city of Battle Ground will hold a Memorial Day Service at the Battle Ground Veterans Memorial in Kiwanis Park on Mon., May 28 at 11 a.m.. In memory of the 31 Battle Ground natives who died in the line of duty and whose names are engraved in the memorial, residents are invited to attend for a reading of the names of these fallen soldiers. The memorial will also see the addition of 16 commemorative bricks, which have been purchased by the family and friends of veterans, living or dead, who wish to honor their loved ones. The commemorative bricks display the veterans’ name, branch of service, and dates of service, and are installed to the memorial annually a few days before Memorial Day.
Farther west, the city of Ridgefield will see a Memorial Day parade as hundreds of spectators line the streets. Organized by the American Legion Post #78, this parade will feature large volume of participants, which include bands, civil activist groups, and veteran associations. The parade will begin at Jesse Lee United Methodist Church at 11:30 a.m. Monday and run down Main Street.
The Fort Vancouver National Historic Site will also host an event in observance of Memorial Day. Sponsored by Waste Connections, this ceremony will feature the Community Military Appreciation Committee. In addition, the living history interpreters with the National Historic Site will host “The Soldiers’ Bivouac,” a living history tour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Monday.
The Lewis & Clark Young Marines will spend the entire weekend in preparation, having begun on Thursday by planting flags and decorating graves at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. On Sat., May 26, the Young Marines will serve as color guard for the Vancouver Elks USO Dance, and will participate in community service efforts at River View cemetery in Portland on Sun., May 25, for the 11th year in a row. The Young Marines also plan to participate in Memorial Day services in Vancouver and Amboy.
