The Mid-Columbia is proud of its veterans, judging from the long list of activities planned to honor them in the coming week. Here’s what’s going on:
Veterans' parades
The seventh annual Prosser 'Thank You Vets' Parade is at 11 a.m. Nov. 11. All are invited to join the parade. Line up begins at 10:15 a.m. near Keene-Riverview School and follows the traditional States Day route.
Veterans, organizations, youth groups, family and friends of current or former military are welcome to participate.
Come join the parade or to cheer on the vets. For more information, contact Deb at 509-778-1820 or 1944 or neorblonde@yahoo.com or the Prosser chamber 509-786-3177.
Free meals for veterans
The Tri-Cities Elks Lodge #2755 will host a Veterans’ Appreciation Dinner on Nov. 11 at 15 S. Colorado St., Kennewick. A free spaghetti dinner will be served to veterans. Cost for spouses and guests is $8. Doors open at 4 p.m., dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. with a short program to follow.
Guests this year include the Washington State University Veterans Club and Vincent DeLiso, a World War II veteran and prisoner of war in Germany. It is expected that representatives from other veterans organizations also will attend including: Columbia Basin Veteran’s Coalition, VFW, American Legion, WA National Guard Armory and VA Clinic.
Friends and other area veterans are welcome — you do not need to be a member of the Elks to attend this dinner. There are seating limitations, however, so RSVP by contacting the Tri-Cities Lodge office, Monday through Friday at 735-6035, or email elks2755@frontier.com.
The Hermiston Chamber of Commerce is organizing a Veterans Day breakfast, free to all veterans and their families, at the Hermiston Conference Center, 415 S. Highway 395 at 8 a.m. Nov. 11.
There will be a short program including a presentation by the Honor Guard, speaker Dean Hackett, a message from Mayor Bob Severson and Mark Johnson will play taps.
All veterans and family members should RSVP to the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce at 541-567-6151.
Book signing
Gary A. Fisher of Richland, who served in Air Force from 1996-70 and served in the Navy and Army reserves, will be signing copies of the 183-page book he edited which features his cousin’s World War II diary, At the Closing of a Day: The Diary of Sgt. Merle Alan Fisher Company B, 1st Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 1st Marine Division 1942-1944.
Fisher will bring the original diary and photographs to the event, which is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 12 at Ragtime Antiques Mall in the Uptown Shopping Center at 1331 George Washington Way in Richland. Copies of the book will be available for sale for $18. Books and e-editions are also available online at Amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.
Corps waives day use fees for vets
The Army Corps of Engineers will waive the day-use fee for veterans, active and reserve service members and their families on Nov. 11 at more than 2,400 recreational areas nationwide.
The waiver does not apply to camping or specialized facilities like group picnic shelters.
Donations needed to help veterans
Columbia Basin College students and the Columbia Basin Veterans Coalition need donations to stock the veteran transition home, The Wagenaar-Pfister Transitional Hose.
Requested items include sponges, light bulbs, toothpaste, razors, coffee and tea, and other household goods.
Drop-off locations are Columbia Basin College and the Columbia Basin Veterans Coalition, 1600 N 20th in Pasco.
Columbia Basin College events
Columbia Basin College will offer several activities honoring veterans through Veterans Day. All events are free and open to the public.
-- Tuesday: a panel of veterans will talk about how their military experience and resources for veterans have helped them succeed in college and career; 11:30 a.m. in CBC’s Gjerde Center.
-- Wednesday: a veteran resource fair shows which services are available to veterans; 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the HUB atrium on the CBC campus.
-- Thursday: meet CBC student veterans; 10:30 a.m. - noon on the HUB stage.
-- Friday: national roll call of those who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; 11 a.m. at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
WSU Tri-Cities events
A week full of veterans-related events will help students and community members learn about veterans issues and opportunities at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
Events being held through Nov. 12 range from a campaign launch for a bronze monument to a semi-formal dance, all organized by the Veterans Club Association & Support student club and the WSU Tri-Cities Office of Veterans Affairs.
"WSU Tri-Cities has 150 identified student veterans this semester - that's 10 percent of the student body," said Jason Alves, Veterans Affairs coordinator. "Veterans are an important part of our diversity. In addition to having a strong student organization, our campus was recently named a 'Military Friendly School' by G.I. Jobs magazine and a 'Veteran Supportive Campus' by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs."
All events during the week are open to the community and are free unless otherwise noted. WSU Tri-Cities is at 2710 Crimson Way, Richland.
Monday, Nov. 7 -- Veterans Monument ceremony, 11 a.m., at the future site outside the East Building parking lot at the corner of Crimson Way and Sprout Road. Recognize inaugural donors to the "Stories" bronze sculpture: Legends Casino, Ice Harbor Brewing, Columbia Center Rotary Club, Coug Parent Program, and more. Learn how to donate to the project and how to submit stories for consideration.
Tuesday, Nov. 8 -- Veterans Resource Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., West Atrium. Learn about the services available regionally for veterans and attend a workshop on time management, stress management, or PTSD.
Wednesday, Nov. 9 -- "The Welcome" film showing, 5 p.m., Battelle Auditorium, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland. Admission "costs" one non-perishable food item. Sponsored by the Associated Students of WSU Tri-Cities, this award-winning film offers an intimate view of life after war: the fear, anger, and isolation of post-traumatic stress that affects some vets and their family members, as told by the multi-generational cast of veterans themselves.
Thursday, Nov. 10 -- Veterans Day Ceremony, 4:30 to 6 p.m., West Atrium. The event includes a panel discussion on Veterans Succeeding in Higher Education.
Friday, Nov. 11 -- Veterans Club Association and Support members and the WSU Tri-Cities Office of Veterans Affairs are taking part in the National Roll Call. This reading of the names of all military personnel lost in Iraq and Afghanistan starts at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Monument site at WSU Tri-Cities (outside the East Building, at the corner of Crimson Way and Sprout Road). This national event is expected to last up to six hours. The WSU Tri-Cities campus is closed Friday in observance of Veterans Day, so access to amenities is limited. No classes are held on Nov. 11.
Friday, Nov. 11 -- Spaghetti Feed, 5 to 7 p.m., Elks Lodge, 15 S. Colorado St. (behind the flashcube building at the corner of Clearwater Ave.), Kennewick. Cost is $10. A portion of the proceeds will go towards the Veterans Monument at WSU Tri-Cities.
Saturday, Nov. 12-- The Veterans Ball scheduled for this date has been rescheduled tp Feb. 11, 2012. Tickets purchased in advance will be honored. This black-tie event includes music, dinner, and a silent auction to benefit the Veterans Monument. Co-sponsored by ASWSUTC and the VCAS. Tickets cost $10/student, $30/student with non-student guest, and $30 each for community members.
Richland School District events
The Richland School District has a strong tradition of honoring veterans at Veterans Day activities. Veterans and their families are invited to attend any of the assemblies listed below during the upcoming week:
Tuesday, Nov. 8, 8:30 a.m. - River’s Edge High School, History of Veterans Day
Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2:30 p.m. - Wiley Elementary School
Thursday, Nov. 10, 8:30 a.m. - Jason Lee Elementary School
Thursday, Nov. 10, 8:45 a.m. - Enterprise Middle School
Thursday, Nov. 10, 9 and 9:50 a.m. - Badger Mountain Elementary School
Thursday, Nov. 10, 9:35 a.m. – Hanford High School
Thursday, Nov. 10, 9:40 a.m. - Richland High School (Art Dawald Gym)
Thursday, Nov. 10, 10:30 am – Sacajawea Elementary School. A parade thru the school will be followed by a no-host lunch. Music groups will perform.
Thursday, Nov. 10, 1:30 p.m. – Carmichael Middle School. The choir and band will perform.
Thursday, Nov. 10, 2 p.m. – Jefferson Elementary School. Guest speaker is Jack Drummond, a veteran and former Jefferson teacher.
Thursday, Nov. 10, 2:15 p.m. - Lewis & Clark Elementary School. Fifth-grade students will present the musical “Welcome Home”.
Pasco School District events
Pasco Schools will hold assemblies this week to celebrate Veterans Day. All events are open to the public, but check in at the front office when you arrive.
Wednesday:
-- Frost Elementary choir students perform at Avalon Health & Rehabilitation Center, 2004 N. 22nd Ave. in Pasco, 1:30 p.m.
-- Captain Gray assemblies, 9:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
-- Chiawana High assembly, 9:39 a.m..
Thursday:
-- Robinson Elementary assembly, 9:30 a.m.
-- Emerson Elementary assembly, 9 a.m.
-- Angelou Elementary assembly, 10 a.m.
-- McGee Elementary assemblies, 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
-- Chess Elementary assembly, 9:15 a.m.
-- Pasco High Ring of Honor ceremony, 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
If you have a Veterans Day event to contribute, email information to news@tricityherald.com
