? To preserve and promote military history.
? To recognize veterans and military families for their contributions to our nation.
? To assist and support veterans, deployed military and their families.
? To recognize community and national events.
? To make recommendations or take action on any other subject pertaining to the well-being of veterans and military families.
When local military supporters said goodbye to the 104th Timberwolves training division a couple of years ago, they suddenly found themselves saying hello to their own collaborative skills. And now, although there is no official Army presence at the Vancouver Barracks for the first time in more than 160 years, military pride continues to flourish in our community.
The community’s gratitude for that abiding spirit is due several dozen groups that have formed the Community Military Appreciation Committee (CMAC). More specifically, praise is due two longtime military supporters: Larry Smith, an Army veteran and Vancouver city councilor; and Dan Tarbell, a Navy veteran and member of the local veterans organization 40 et 8. Smith and Tarbell have led the rapid and steady growth of CMAC to a force that now includes more than two dozen groups.
As Andrea Damewood reported in Tuesday’s Columbian, the 104th had been at the Vancouver Barracks since 1946 when the Army in 2009 began to transfer the unit to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. By the time the move was completed last summer, CMAC leaders had adopted a wise strategy, working with the departing division for one year to make the transition from military presence to civic support as seamless as possible.
? To preserve and promote military history.
? To recognize veterans and military families for their contributions to our nation.
? To assist and support veterans, deployed military and their families.
? To recognize community and national events.
? To make recommendations or take action on any other subject pertaining to the well-being of veterans and military families.
CMAC gained nonprofit status and now, to the community’s good fortune, military and patriotic holidays continue and a wide array of support services are promoted for veterans and military families. CMAC has hosted Memorial Day services, helped with Veterans Day celebrations and organized a POW-MIA recognition day. Next on the calendar is the Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. May 30 at the Clark County War Memorial, across the street from the O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend and honor Americans who have died while in military service.
But beyond the public spotlight, CMAC helps in many ways highly beneficial to military families. A trail bench was installed last year to honor Vancouver native Christopher Walz, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. And CMAC has embarked on a $2,500 fundraising campaign to build a bench on a trail near the home of Chris Loehr’s father. Loehr was killed March 20 in a vehicle-train crash in Kelso. The Skyview High School graduate was a veteran of two Army tours of duty. (To contribute to the fund, or for details about the group: http://www.cmac11.com.)
CMAC’s success is impressive, but not surprising in Clark County, where pride, patriotism, philanthropy and respect for the military are on full and constant display. That farewell ceremony in 2009 evolved into a “we’ve got to do something” session. And, as happens so often around here, people — with no agenda other than to help others — agreed to set aside their personal needs and immediately tended to the needs of others past and present.
Vancouver’s history is deeply rooted in the military, and the loss of the 104th could have marked the end of an era. Instead, it was a passing of the baton. CMAC cherishes that stewardship and the duties that come with it. And we know the group will continue to have the community’s full support.
