I appreciate many things about Fort Vancouver’s Memorial Day ceremony: rifle and artillery salutes, wreath laying, taps, bagpipes, Patriot Guard riders, community members gathering to formally remember. This year’s addition of the large pictures of recent Clark County dead was excellent.
I was saddened and angered by the ridiculous amount of time spent honoring the Community Military Appreciation Committee, Waste Connections, politicians, and the National Park Service. The Gold Star families were sandwiched in a long list of CMAC associates, and not even individually acknowledged by name. There was no moment of silence. But the National Park Service had plenty of time to plug its building project.
U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., (who weren’t even there) sent letters reminding us to vote for them. Larry Smith, co-chairman of the CMAC, had time to read speakers’ curriculum vitaes, which were available in the program, and talk at length about the CMAC. Veterans were repeatedly mentioned.
U.S. Army Col. John Sweeney was the only speaker solely on topic.
There are other times to recognize volunteer organizations, other public servants, and even veterans, who have their own holiday in November. Memorial Day is about the war dead, and the Gold Star families. I would like to see the CMAC alter the program to reflect that.