Veterans Day parade, ceremonies and more set to honor those who served in Tri-Cities
Organizations across the Tri-Cities plan to pay tribute to the more than 16,000 veterans living in the Tri-Cities this Veterans Day.
The city of Pasco will honor veterans with two ceremonies at City View Cemetery .
There are more than 950 veterans laid to rest at the cemetery, from the Spanish-American War through the Korean War, World War I and World War II, to a special memorial for a Civil War soldier.
On Veterans Day, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m., the city will host a ceremony to pay tribute to the men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces. The ceremony will feature patriotic songs, the symbolic changing of flags and a wreath placement.
The ceremony includes:
Opening Remarks & Introduction of Reverend Albert Wilkins – Mayor Pete Serrano
Prayer – Reverend Albert Wilkins
National Anthem – Performed by Kay Miracle
Pledge of Allegiance – Led by Mayor Pete Serrano
Wreath Placement – Councilmember Peter Harpster
Changing of Flags – Tri-Cities Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol
Lowering of Old Flag – Mayor Pete Serrano, Councilmember Peter Harpster
Patriotic Song – Performed by Kay Miracle
Introduction of Keynote Speaker – Mayor Pete Serrano
Keynote Speaker – Shawn Sant
Introduction to Wreaths Across America – Councilmember Peter Harpster
Closing Remarks – Mayor Pete Serrano
"God Bless the U.S.A." – Performed by Kay Miracle
On Dec. 14 at 11 a.m., Pasco will join the National Wreaths Across America Day tradition at City View Cemetery. In communities nationwide, volunteers will place wreaths on the graves of veterans.
Wreaths Across America began at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992.
Last year was Pasco's first year participating in the event.
Members of the public can sign up to sponsor a wreath, volunteer for the event or offer a corporate sponsorship on the City View Cemetery page on the Wreaths Across America website.
The Tri-Cities Veterans Day Parade will start at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in downtown West Richland. followed by a free chili feed at Flattop Park at 11 a.m.
The grand marshal this year is retired Master Chief Dodd Coutts.
Kennewick will commemorate Veterans Day at 11 a.m. Monday at the Regional Veterans Memorial at Columbia Park.
The event will include the flag raising by the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard and Pasco American Legion Honor Guard, a 3-round rifle volley by the Kennewick Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, and a bugler performing "To the Color."
Speakers include Port of Kennewick Commissioner Skip Novakovich, who is a retired Army Lt. Colonel, and city elected officials.
