Brigadier general to be keynote speaker at Memorial Day event
By Tom Vogt, Columbian
Science, Military & History Reporter
Published: May 18, 2015, 5:00pm
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White doves are released May 26, 2014 in memory of those who died in the line of duty, including Air Force Capt. Chris Stover, during an observance at the Clark County Veterans War Memorial. Stover died Jan. 7 when his helicopter crashed in England during training. His parents, Rick and Mari Stover, center, helped with the ceremony.
o What: Vancouver Memorial Day Observance.
o When: 11 a.m. Monday.
o Where: Bandstand at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, opposite Officers Row.
Brig. Gen. Kurt J. Ryan will be the keynote speaker Monday at Vancouver’s Memorial Day Observance.
The 11 a.m. ceremony will be held at the Vancouver Barracks bandstand along Evergreen Boulevard, opposite Officers Row.
Ryan’s 27-year Army career has included several overseas deployments, including the first Gulf War in Kuwait and Iraq in 1990-1991; enforcing the peace in Bosnia and Croatia in 1996; the campaign to liberate Iraq in 2003; and three deployments to Afghanistan, with the most recent ending in 2012.
Domestically, Ryan was involved in the relief and recovery efforts in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in 2005.
Ryan currently is the commanding general for the 593rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), headquartered at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, near Tacoma.
Ryan’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster (signifying an additional medal), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters.
Others scheduled to speak include Army Col. John Sweeney, commander of the 2nd Brigade, 95th Division, based at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in east Vancouver; U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas; Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt; and Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Superintendent Tracy Fortmann.
The observance is sponsored by the Community Military Appreciation Committee and Waste Connections. Other partners are the National Park Service, the city of Vancouver, Fort Vancouver National Trust, Armed Forces Reserve Center and 40 et 8.
o What: Vancouver Memorial Day Observance.
o When: 11 a.m. Monday.
o Where: Bandstand at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, opposite Officers Row.
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