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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2017
President proclaims November as National Veterans and Military Families Month
B Y C HANTELLE M EYER
Siuslaw News
For 98 years, Americans have
remembered those who served
our country in uniform on Nov.
11, first as Armistice Day, and
then, since 1954, as Veterans
Day. In this 99th year of com-
memoration, the Department of
Veterans Affairs is broadening
that tradition of observance and
appreciation to include both
Veterans and Military Families
for the entire month of
November.
In a proclamation dated Nov.
1, U.S. President Donald Trump
said, “During National Veterans
and Military Families Month,
we honor the significant contri-
butions made by American
service members, their families
and their loved ones. We set
aside this month surrounding
Veterans Day to hold obser-
vances around the country to
honor and thank those whose
service and sacrifice represent
the very best of America. We
renew our Nation’s commit-
ment to support veterans and
military families. They deserve
it.”
In Florence, the community
gathers for several events to
thank veterans and honor their
service.
The public is invited to the
Florence Elks Lodge, 1686 12th
St., from 9 to 11a.m. on
Saturday to hear a short presen-
tation and enjoy a musical
salute to all U.S. military
Brothers
from 1A
“I saw too many movies that
showed trench warfare. And it
didn’t make sense to me,”
John said. “Somebody yells
‘Charge!’ and you jump out of
the trench and run. And the
bad guys mow you down with
machine guns. The guys
defending their trenches have
the advantage over the guys
running at them. I did not want
to be drafted into the Army
and end up in a trench some-
where, in some miserable
stinking hole, so I enlisted in
the Navy.”
John signed up to serve his
country right after graduating
from high school in Los
Angeles. John now lives with
his younger brother Bill, who
is 84 and also a veteran.
The two men share a warm,
tidy home in Glenada, having
moved in together in 2007.
The brothers have each lost
their wives and two more
brothers who also served in
the military.
John’s eyes lit up when he
discussed the time he served
as a machinist and gunner in
nation needed them most. And
now they deserve our honor and
respect.”
The president concluded his
proclamation by saying, “I
encourage all communities, all
sectors of society and all
Youth participate at the
2016 Veterans Day Parade
in Historic Old Town
Florence.
branches. Members of the U.S.
Coast Guard Station Siuslaw
River will
present the colors.
Then, at 2 p.m., Florence
Veteran’s Day Parade organiz-
ers invite the community to join
them in honoring the service
and sacrifice of U.S. Armed
Forces members and veterans
during the annual Veterans Day
Parade.
The 2017 Grand Marshals
are Korean War Veterans.
The Korean War is often
referred to as “The Forgotten
War.”
Parade organizers said, “We
make a pledge that these veter-
ans will be forgotten no more.
We will have them up front to
take the first salutes and cheers
of our crowds. We have much to
thank them for and for this rea-
son above the rest, we salute
our Korean War veterans.”
Great viewing locations for
the parade include Harbor
Street, the Port of Siuslaw park-
ing lot and Historic Old Town
Florence, especially Bay Street.
Tributes and treats for veter-
ans will be available at the
Veteran’s Memorial Park on
Bay Street at the end of the
parade.
After the parade concludes,
Spruce Point Assisted Living,
375 Ninth St., is hosting a
Veterans Day Social from 4 to 5
p.m. People are encouraged to
come meet some of the assisted
living’s veterans and enjoy light
refreshments. For more infor-
mation, call 541-997-6111.
In addition, local businesses
may be offering Veterans Day
specials to veterans and active
military members. The U.S.
Forest Service will even waive
fees at day-use recreation sites
in Oregon and Washington,
including the Siuslaw National
Forest, on Saturday and Sunday
in honor of Veterans Day.
“Our veterans have bravely
and proudly carried the burden
of defending this country by
their honorable service during
war and peacetime. And for
that, there are no words to
express our gratitude,” Florence
Veterans Day Parade organizers
said. “Soldiers, sailors, airmen,
Marines and the Coast Guard
have all given their time, and
many times their lives, to pro-
tect our freedoms. They
answered the call when our
WWII. He worked on a supply
vessel and his ship was torpe-
doed as it made a run in sup-
port of the battle of Anzio.
Anzio is one of the most
infamous of battles of WWII,
due in large part to the casual-
ties endured by both sides. In
all, 12,000 combatants were
killed in this battle for Italy,
and 60,000 soldiers, from both
sides, were wounded or went
missing in action.
The battle for Anzio was
brutal and bloody and was so
poorly fought by the Allies
that the original commander of
the operation, Major General
John P. Lucas, was replaced
after being outmaneuvered by
his German and Italian coun-
terparts.
John remembers not being
overly concerned when the
first torpedo struck his ship.
Bill sat nearby, listening
intently and gently clarified
times and places for his older
brother as John related his sto-
ries of WWII.
“I was on the 8 p.m. to mid-
night watch in the engine
room that night,” John said. “I
got off at midnight and went to
my bunk, which was the low-
est one, and they were all
stacked up above me. I
remember I was glad to get to
my bunk. I was tired and, at
about 2 a.m., there was a big
explosion. All the chains on
the bunks above me broke, and
they all fell down on top of
me. I couldn’t get out.”
Americans to acknowledge and
honor the service, sacrifices and
contributions of veterans and
military families for what they
have done and for what they do
every day to support our great
Nation.”
SIUSLAW NEWS FILE PHOTO
See
BROTHERS 8A
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot
Like Bazaar Time
• Holiday Bazaar at Shorewood
Senior Living
• Friday and Saturday, December
1 & 2, 10 am – 2 pm.
• Stroll around and see over 14
tables of fun.
• Demonstrations, hot apple
cider, and music to put you in a HOLIDAY mood.
• Some of the sale items will be…Tupperwear, Pampered
Chef and Scentsy.
• Lots of hand-made and unique items. You know you want to
come!!!!
• COOKIE EXCHANGE; Bring a half-dozen of your favorite bar
cookies and exchange them with other yummy treats. Such
as home-made walnut, cranberry, cream cheese bars, from
Shorewood Senior Living.
SHOREWOOD SENIOR LOVING
541-997-8202 | shorewoodsl.com
1451 Spruce Street, Florence
DENTURE SERVICES INC.
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
Open 4 days a week!
Here to serve your denture needs:
Dentures
Partial Dentures
Immediate Dentures
Implant Dentures
Relines & Repairs Same Day
Monday-Thursday
10am - 2 pm
524 Laurel St.
541-997-6054
William Foster LD
Sherry, Offi ce Manager
“As a denture wearer myself,
I can answer your
questions and address
your denture concerns.”
~ William Foster, LD
Financing: Citi Health Card
12 Month no Interest
FRAA ART CENTER
120 Maple Street
Phone: 541-997-4435
Hours Open: Wed-Fri noon-5pm,
Sat 10am-5pm, Sun. noon-5pm
Classes, Workshops & Events
Next Art Change-Out Day
Monday, November 13th, 9-11 am
Please pick up your artwork and bring
something new to help keep the art at
FRAA fresh to our visitors.
Holiday Arts Festival
Held at the FEC, Friday, December 1st 1-7
pm and Saturday, December 2nd 10 am -
4 pm
Join us, do your Christmas shopping and
support and visit with your local artist
friends.
NEW! Big Wave Poetry 1st
Tuesday Open Mic
FRAA will be hosting the Big Wave
Poetry’s 1st Tuesday Open Mic events
each month. The next one is
December 5th, 6:30 pm. Admission is
free and refreshments will be available.
Catherine Rourke will be back in
2018 with new Creative Writing
Workshops!
Painting with John Leasure
Open Studio @ FRAA, Thursdays
No registration required. Drop-in, bring
your materials, and create. All artistic
mediums welcome.
Every Thursday, 1-4 pm
Saturdays 9 am - 12 pm
Nov 4, 11, 18, 25, Dec 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
Contact: jnleasure@hotmail.com or
541-991-2754 for details and fees.
Oil Painting with Michael Wood
Whimsical Hand Building
Ceramics w/ Alissa Clark
Wednesdays, 3-5 pm & Thursdays, 6-8 pm
Open Lab Ceramics on Saturdays
Drop in, work at own pace. Sat 12-5 pm
All ceramics classes held at Alissa’s
Studio. 180 Laurel Street. Call Alissa with
questions: 503-857-5222
Wednesdays 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Contact: fmwood@msn.com for fees and
more information.
FRAA Holiday Closures
We will be closed on Thanksgiving,
Christmas and New Year’s Day. We will
shorten our open hours to 12-3 pm on
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
For more information about classes, visit fraaoregon.org. To register for
these classes, please call or visit FRAA at our art center on Maple Street.
Parade Begins at 2pm
Great viewing along the Port Parking Lot and Bay Street.
Tributes and treats for Veterans will be available at Veterans Memorial Park
GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS:
Sea Lion Caves • NW Refl ections • Oregon Pacifi c Bank • Oregon Coast Military Vehicle Club
Siuslaw News • KCST • Suncoast Bookkeeping • Wally’s Portable Toilets
SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS:
1285 Restobar • VFW Post 3232 • American Legion • Tony’s Garage • Coast Insurance
Spruce Point • Coast Real Estate • Ron’s Paint • Lion’s Club
BRONZE LEVEL SPONSOR:
Les Schwab
