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Parade of events mark Veterans Day in Clark County

Organization’s first Veterans Day Expo mixes fun for all ages into day featuring more traditional observance, ceremony

By Erin Middlewood, Columbian Managing Editor for Content

Published: November 8, 2019, 6:02am

7 Photos

The Prairie High School Armed Drill Team performs at a past veterans parade. (Contributed photo) Photo Gallery

Mike Burton noticed something at Veterans Day events over the past few years:

He recognized everyone there.

“We were talking to ourselves,” said Burton, a retired U.S. Air Force officer and co-chairman of the Community Military Appreciation Committee, known as CMAC.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that some 37,000 veterans live in Clark County. CMAC decided it was time to come up with something new to try to reach that broader audience.

After Saturday’s Lough Legacy Veterans Parade, CMAC is hosting its first Veterans Day Expo at Hudson’s Bay High School, with free coffee, drinks, hot dogs and ice cream. Businesses, local government and community organizations will have tables at the event showcasing their veteran employees, Burton said. The event will also feature face painting, family-friendly interactive activities and military vehicles on display.

“We’re trying to make it a fun event that people would like to go to,” Burton said.

It will open at noon to catch people as they finish watching the parade, organized by the nonprofit Historic Trust.

A ceremony at 9:30 a.m. in the ballroom of Providence Academy will kick off the day’s events.

Details, etiquette tip

The parade itself starts at 11 a.m. It has 115 entries, including 50 Scout troops and 35 veterans groups, said Sarah Hannon, public events manager for the Historic Trust.

The parade’s reviewing officer is Brig. Gen. Donna Prigmore, the first woman to command the Oregon Air National Guard.

Carl Lingenfelter, a 100-year-old World War II veteran and CMAC’s oldest member, will ride in the parade and take questions at the expo afterward.

“We’ll have many veterans riding in the parade in military vehicles and antique cars,” Hannon said. “This parade is for them — to remind them that we see them and we honor them and, most importantly, we thank them.”

A tip on etiquette: If you are a civilian and want to salute veterans or the flag as they pass, remove your hat if you’re wearing one and put your right hand over your heart. Only military members and veterans should salute with the hand-to-forehead gesture. But Burton said any show of respect would be welcome.

“I wouldn’t be offended if people saluted in any way whatsoever,” Burton said.

If You Go

What: Opening ceremony for the Lough Legacy Veterans Parade.
When: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 9.
Where: Providence Academy Ballroom, 400 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver.
Cost: Free.
• • •
What: Lough Legacy Veterans Parade.
When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 9.
Where: Begins at East Reserve Street and proceeds west on Evergreen Boulevard to Broadway, south to Eighth Street, west to Main Street, north to 11th Street, east to end at the Providence Academy.
Cost: Free.
Information:www.thehistorictrust.org
• • •
What: Community Military Appreciation Committee Veterans Day Expo.
When: Noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 9.
Where: Hudson’s Bay High School, 1601 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver.
Cost: Free.
Information:cmac11.com

Details, etiquette tip

If You Go

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