William Sobolewski holds a stronger connection to the Fort Vancouver National Site than most: He was born there, in what used to be called the “Station Hospital.”
So it’s no surprise that Sobolewski, an Army veteran, is now a regular at the Lough Legacy Veterans Parade at Fort Vancouver. He joined the crowds for the 28th installment of the annual celebration under brilliant skies Saturday.
“I come pretty much yearly,” said Sobolewski, who watched the parade with his wife, Mary.
Onlookers of all ages watched as marching bands, Scout troops, veterans and others strolled in front of Officers Row, then looped around the south end of the Fort Vancouver grounds. After a morning fog lifted, American flags waved against a backdrop of bright autumn leaves on the historic site.
It’s a place Sobolewski keeps fond childhood memories of from the time his father — who served in both world wars — was stationed in Vancouver. Mary’s father also served during World War II, she said.
Sobolewski said he’s made it a special point to thank and salute veterans of the Vietnam War, who may not have felt the same appreciation during the tumultuous time in which they served. And as a veteran who served in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Sobolewski said he’s humbled to be recognized as part of events like Saturday’s.
“I feel honored to be a veteran,” said Sobolewski, who now lives in Camas. “Where else can you get all this celebrity status?”
Saturday’s festivities began with an opening ceremony in front of the Marshall House on Officers Row. Speakers honored those who served in conflicts past and present, and those who served their country in other ways. Honorees included Vancouver resident Dale Bowlin, who was a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II. Bowlin lost his leg during the war.
As speakers shared their stories and their respects, distant bagpipes and drums floated over cold morning air as the parade participants got ready several blocks away. Vancouver City Councilman Larry Smith, a retired Army officer, told visitors that thanking someone for his or her service doesn’t require a special occasion.
“You can never stop saying thank you, thank you, thank you,” Smith said. “You don’t have to wait until Veterans Day to thank a soldier or a military service member.”
Calvin Brown drove from Eugene, Ore., to see the event for the first time Saturday. He came to see a grandchild march in the parade, but also served in the Army from 1959 to 1965, he said.
Community events like Saturday’s parade reflect a genuine appreciation from those who show up and take part, Brown said. “They really care about this country,” he said.
For Vancouver residents Zach and Sandy Long, who came with their daughters McKayla, 3, and Audrey, 1, the event offered a chance to show gratitude with a younger generation. That included several children served by Mentors of Boys, a Vancouver-based organization that Zach Long helps lead.
“That’s really what we want to instill in them,” he said of the values exemplified by the day’s participants. “Freedom is not free.”
