2014 Memorial Day Program

Welcome to
Vancouver’s
Memorial Day
Observance
Monday, May 26, 2014
11 AM
Vancouver Barracks
Sponsored by the
Community Military
Appreciation
Committee and
Waste Connections
Hosted by National Park Service
and City of Vancouver
Memorial Day History
Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of
an organization of Union veterans, the Grand Army of the Republic,
established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the
graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John Logan declared
that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed
that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the
country.
The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National
Cemetery. The ceremony was held around the mourning-draped
veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E.
Lee. Various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses
S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. After speeches, children
from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the
GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both
Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns.
Various cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. The village
of Boalsburg, PA claims it began there in 1866. A stone in a
Carbondale, IL cemetery carries the statement that the first
Decoration Day ceremony took place there on April 29, 1866.
Approximately 25 places have been named in connection with the
origin of Memorial Day, many in the South where most of the war
dead were buried.
In 1966, Congress and President Johnson declared Waterloo, NY the
“birthplace” of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5, 1866,
honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses
closed and residents flew flags at half-staff.
By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being
held on May 30 throughout the nation. State legislatures passed
proclamations designating the day, and the Army and Navy adopted
regulations for proper observance at their facilities.
It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was
expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In
1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of
Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then
also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal
holidays.
Thank you
Sponsor ................................................... Waste Connections
CMAC Co-chairs ............................. Larry J. Smith, Dan Tarbell
CMAC Operations ..................................................... Jerry Keen
CMAC Secretary .................................................... Anita Stadey
Artillery Firing ............................................................. Don Olson
Buffalo Soldiers ................................................... Bill Morehouse
Chaplain ............................................................ Randy Warneke
Dove Release............................ Bright Eyes Doves, Jadia Ward
Flag Line and Honor Escorts ................................. John Hopkins
Gold Star Liaison...................................... Anne McEnerny-Ogle
Honor Guard/Post Colors ............. 2/95 Division, Young Marines
Honor Guard/Rifle Firing .................. John Hopkins, 6th Marines
Host and Guest Speakers .....................................Larry J. Smith
Indoor Reception ............................... CMAC, Elks Emblem Club
Invitations/Program ........................................Samantha Whitley
Lunch ...................................................... Vancouver Lion’s Club
Media ................................................................... Madi Kozacek
Military Vehicles ...................................................... Jack Giesen
Music .......................... 204th Division, Ft. Vancouver Pipe Band
Outdoor Reception ........................................ MOAA, Red Cross
Parade Escort ........................... Combat Veterans International
Parking ................................................................. Civil Air Patrol
Photography .......................................................... Ralph Walker
Rifle Volley ..................................... 6th Marine Support Battalion
Seating and Stage.................................................... Roy Billings
Security ......................................................... John Hopkins, CVI
Set Up/Take Down ......................... Young Marines, Boy Scouts
Singer................................................................... Rey Reynolds
Sound System .................................. Bo Russel, Michael Stacey
State Flags .......................... 2/95th Division and Young Marines
Tents ........................................................... Clark Public Utilities
Transportation .............................................. Jan Wojciechowski
VIP Escort ............................................................ Jim Czmowski
Water ...................................Water & Air Works, Byron Jacobus
Wreaths.............................................. Luepke Florist, Joel Scott
2014
2014 Memorial Day Program
In Memoriam
Music ........................................................ 204th Army Band
Air Force Captain Christopher Stover, 28 grew up in Vancouver
and graduated from Evergreen High School in 2004. He was
one of four Air Force personnel on an HH-60G Pave Hawk that
crashed in England on January 7, 2014 on the North Norfolk
coast.
Captain Stover was serving a three year deployment in
England, and also did tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was
married in December 2012 to his wife, Sarah, who lives in
England.
Welcome .......................Colonel (R) Larry J. Smith, CMAC
Post Colors ....................... US Army Recruiting Company
National Anthem ..................... Officer Rey Reynolds, VPD
Dove Release .......................................... Bright Eye Doves
Invocation ................................. Chaplain Randy Warneke
Remarks ..................................... Mayor Timothy D. Leavitt
Remarks ......................... Superintendent Tracy Fortmann
Remarks .............................Lieutenant Colonel J.D. Litton
Remarks ............ Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler
God Bless the USA.......................... Officer Rey Reynolds
Key Note Speaker ............ Colonel Richard Wedan, ORA6
Stover Family Wreath............ Commander VFW Dale Rex
Wreath Laying .................................. Daniel Tarbell, CMAC
Rifle Volley ............................6th Marine Support Battalion
Artillery Salute .............. 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery
A flag pole dedication, honoring Captain Stover will be held
today at the Vancouver Harmony Sports Complex, at 2:00 PM
at 1500 NE 192nd Avenue, near NE 18th Street. There will be
limited seating.
Taps .......................................................... 204th Army Band
A flag that once flew over the United States Capital will be
raised for the first time at its new home above the soccer field
where Chris Stover and many others have played with passion.
The idea, fundraising and construction of this project have
been coordinated by Boy Scout Connor Johnson. Your
attendance would be most appreciated.
Thanks and Farewell .................................... Larry J. Smith
Amazing Grace ................... Annette Allen and Pipe Band
Service Song Medley .............................. 204th Army Band
Benediction ............................... Chaplain Randy Warneke
Retire Colors ................... US Army Vancouver Recruiting
Please join us for a free lunch and historical camp
reenactments after the observance
Keynote Speaker
History of the Clark County War Memorial
Colonel Richard W. Wedan
Commander for the 142d Fighter Wing
in Portland, Oregon
Col. Wedan leads over 1,000 personnel
in the execution of the F-15 Aerospace
Control Alert mission defending the
Pacific Northwest, worldwide
deployments supporting national
objectives, and domestic operations
activities as directed by the Governor.
Col. Wedan received a Bachelor's
degree in Business Management in
1987. He enlisted in the Minnesota Air
National Guard in 1988 as a Command
Post Controller with the 148th Fighter
Wing in Duluth. He earned his
commission in 1989 from the Academy
of Military Science, attended pilot training at Vance Air Force Base,
and received his F-16 training at Kingsley Field, Oregon in 1991. He
returned to Minnesota where he served as a drill status guardsman
for four years prior to taking a position as a Flying Training Instructor
in 1995.
In 1997, Col. Wedan returned to Oregon as an Instructor Pilot with
the 173d Fighter Wing. He served 12 years there prior to being
assigned to Oregon's Joint Force Headquarters for three years as the
Director of Operations, and now is assigned to the 142d Fighter
Wing. He has been a Vice Wing Commander, Operations Group
Commander, Fighter Squadron Commander, Aircraft Maintenance
Squadron Commander, Fighter Squadron Director of Operations,
Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, Chief of Academics, Chief
of Operations Training, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Chief of
Operations Scheduling, Airspace Manager, and Wing Strategic
Initiatives Officer.
The original memorial, located at the Clark County Courthouse,
was built in 1945. Several years ago it was discovered that
names were missing from that memorial. Because of the
smaller size, age and handicap inaccessibility of the original
memorial, it was thought a new memorial might be in order.
Upon a request from Clark County officials, the 40 et 8 formed
The Clark County Veterans Memorial Advisory Committee, cochaired by Chuck Jones and Coleah I. Penley-Ayers. Meeting
monthly, committee members worked for five years uncovering
more missing names, designing, planning and fundraising.
Primarily the memorial was funded by individual donations from
within the community. The memorial was dedicated on
Memorial Day, 1999.
The designer of the memorial was Terry Snyder from the
Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department. Funding
shortfalls did not originally allow for a third flagpole and lighting.
In early 2013, Boy Scout Patrick Keller led a project to put in a
new 30 ft. flagpole to complement the existing 25 ft. poles as
well as fly the U.S. flag. In addition to the new pole, he added a
new light fixture and landscaping.
Bruce Fuerstenberg from Vancouver Granite Works engraved
all of the names. CMAC provides operational oversight
information to the National Park Service regarding the
Memorial.
Other Speakers
Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler
In January 2011, Jaime Herrera Beutler
was elected to Congress at the age of
31 to represent Southwest Washington
in the U.S. House of Representatives.
One of the youngest women to ever
serve in Congress, Jaime is also the
first Hispanic to represent Washington
State in the U.S. House of
Representatives. She was re-elected in
2012 and began her second term in
January 2013.
Born in Glendale, California, and raised in southwest
Washington, she graduated from Prairie High School then
earned a B.A. in Communications from the University of
Washington.
Mayor Timothy D. Leavitt
The Leavitts moved to Clark
County in 1980. After graduating
from Fort Vancouver High School,
Tim attended Clark College where
he earned his Associate in Arts and
Pre-Engineering Degree. He then
transferred to Washington State
University and earned a Bachelor’s
in Civil Engineering and a Master’s
in Environmental Engineering.
She is a former Senior Legislative Aide for U.S.
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and a former state
representative for the 18th Legislative District in Washington
State. Herrera Beutler also served as an intern in both the
Washington State Senate and in Washington, D.C. at the White
House Office of Political Affairs.
In 2003, Leavitt was encouraged by civil leaders to pursue a
vacant seat on the Vancouver City Council. After seven years
as a city council member, Leavitt was elected as Mayor of
Vancouver, on January 1, 2010. He also serves on a number of
community and agency boards, including CTRAN, the regional
economic development partnership, Greater Portland, Inc., the
Clark College Foundation, and the Trauma Intervention
Program Board.
She serves on the following Committees: Appropriations, Small
Business, Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government, Subcommittee on Health and Technology,
Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies,
Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight and Regulations,
Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban
Development, and Related Agencies.
The Mayor and City Council are not full-time compensated
positions. Consequently, Tim holds a professional position as
Senior Civil Engineer with PBS Engineering + Environmental.
His responsibilities include business development, client
relations, project management and technical oversight of staff
engineers.
Jaime, her husband Daniel, and daughter Abigail reside in
Camas.
Superintendent Tracy Fortmann
Lieutenant Colonel J.D. Litton
Tracy Fortmann is a career
National Park Service employee
who began her work as a policy
analyst at the national
headquarters in Washington
D.C. in the Office of Policy.
Tracy worked at Golden Gate
National Recreation Area where
she served as Management
Assistant to the Superintendent
and later as the Chief of the
Office of Communications. In
this capacity, she was
responsible for Legislation and Partnerships. In addition, Tracy
served as the head of communications for the Presidio Project
Team—a Post to Park transfer. She has also served as a
spokesperson on a number of emergency incidents, including
fire, oil spills, and storms. She served as Acting
Superintendent at Jewel Cave National Monument in South
Dakota.
Lieutenant Colonel J.D.
Litton is the Commander of
2nd Brigade, 95th Division,
US Army Reserves located
at the Armed Forces
Reserve Center in
Vancouver. LTC Litton spent
12 years on active duty as a
Field Artillery Officer with
assignments in Germany, Ft.
Lewis, Ft. Bragg, and the
104th Division at Vancouver
Barracks in 2007.
As Superintendent at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site,
Tracy oversees multiple historical areas in Washington and
Oregon. Under her tenure, the park’s annual visitation has
more than doubled and the park’s volunteer program has grown
to 700 volunteers.
Tracy has a B.A. and a M.A. in political science. She has a
certificate in Fundraising and Philanthropy from George
Washington University and is a graduate of the governmentwide Executive Potential Program. In 2002 and 2009, she was
named Pacific West Region Superintendent of the Year for
Cultural Resource Stewardship. In 2009, she was also the
regional winner of the Appleman-Judd-Lewis Award for Cultural
Resource Stewardship.
In 2009, LTC Litton deployed
to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation
New Dawn where he served as the US 3rd Army Liaison Officer
to the Commander of US Forces-Iraq and was a member of the
team which planned the withdraw of US forces from Iraq. Upon
completion of the 20-month deployment, LTC Litton was
awarded the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal, and
joined his current unit where he commanded the Brigade for a
3-month period before resuming his current role.
LTC Litton has a Bachelor in Political Science from University
of Oregon and is a Distinguished Military Graduate of the U of
O Reserve Officer Training Corps. He and his wife Trish have
8 children and 4 grandchildren.