COMMUNITY
A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021
HERMISTON HISTORY
Umatilla Museum moves to new building
Rose Johnsongale/Contributed Photo
Veteran Cliff “Mike” McMichael, pictured seated, is presented
a Quilt of Valor at an American Legion Post 37 gathering, as
honor guard members David Mull, left, and Robert Daniel
watch.
American Legion
hosts Quilt of Valor,
poppy campaign
By JADE MCDOWELL
and TAMMY MALGESINI
STAFF WRITERS
Medal and the WWII Vic-
tory Medal.
American Legion Post
37 and the Auxiliary
recently hosted a Quilt
of Valor ceremony at its
spring potluck, honor-
ing 94-year-old Cliff ord
J. “Mike” McMichael of
Hermiston.
The Quilt of Valor is a
handmade quilt presented
to a veteran, considered a
“civilian award” to the sol-
dier for their bravery in
service.
According to the biog-
raphy put together by
American Legion, McMi-
chael was a 17-year-
old farm boy in Curtis,
Nebraska, when he was
inspired by accounts of
D-Day in newsreels and
on the radio. Three months
later he joined the Army
and was trained as a com-
bat engineer. He was
shipped across the Atlantic
to England in a troop ship
and crossed the English
Channel to a newly liber-
ated France. He made his
way through Europe clear-
ing landmines until Ger-
many’s surrender.
He returned home to
farming and started work-
ing at an Army depot there
before eventually transfer-
ring to work at the Uma-
tilla Chemical Depot.
He has lived in Hermis-
ton ever since and been a
member of the American
Legion post there for more
than 70 years.
McMichael’s military
awards include two Bronze
Stars for meritorious ser-
vice, an American The-
ater Ribbon, a ribbon for
his service in the Europe-
an-African-Middle Eastern
Theater, a Good Conduct
Members of the Amer-
ican Legion Auxiliary,
Hermiston Unit 37, are dis-
tributing poppies leading
up to Memorial Day.
The bright, red, paper
fl owers will be available at
small countertop displays
throughout Hermiston and
Umatilla., including Har-
vest Columbia Foods in
Umatilla and the Hermiston
Safeway store. Auxiliary
members will be at those
locations Thursday through
Saturday from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m.
The fl owers are free but
donations are accepted. All
money received will be
used to help veterans. The
purpose of the annual out-
reach, which was canceled
last year, is to honor the
fallen and support the liv-
ing, said Cathy Stolz, pres-
ident of Hermiston’s Amer-
ican Legion Auxiliary Unit
37.
Stolz shared that fol-
lowing World War II, fi elds
of red poppies appeared
throughout France. The
blood-soaked fi elds pro-
vided benefi cial conditions
for the bright red fl ow-
ers to fl ourish. Thereafter,
the poppy became associ-
ated with the sacrifi ces of
veterans.
“We would love to
see people wearing them
throughout our area as we
remember the sacrifi ces of
U.S. veterans around the
world,” Stolz said. “Wear-
ing a poppy is the easiest
way to say thank you to
veterans for their sacrifi ces
for our freedoms.”
For more information,
text/call an auxiliary mem-
ber at 541-571-5816.
Poppy sales planned
Free walking program
improves health
HERMISTON HERALD
Good Shepherd Health
Care System announces the
Walk With Ease program.
Regardless if you need
relief from arthritis pain or
just want to be active, the
Arthritis Foundation’s six-
week Walk With Ease pro-
gram can teach people how
to safely make physical
activity part of their every-
day life. The free local pro-
gram kicks off Monday,
June 7, from 9-10 a.m. at
Good Shepherd, 610 N.W.
11th St., Hermiston.
The program runs three
days a week (Monday,
Wednesday and Friday)
for six weeks and features
low-intensity walking. Walk
With Ease reduces the pain
and discomfort of arthri-
tis, increases balance and
strength, builds confi dence
in your ability to be phys-
ically active and improves
overall health.
For more information or
to pre-register, visit www.
eventbrite.com. For ques-
tions, call 541-667-3509.
Hermiston Herald, File
High school rodeo athletes pose for a picture while Hermiston hosted the state high school rodeo fi nals in 1970.
25 YEARS AGO
May 28, 1996
The map Irving Bochert was look-
ing at last week showed a very dif-
ferent Umatilla County. Where Stan-
fi eld is, the map calls Foster. Where
Hermiston is, the map refers to as
Maxwell. That’s because the map is
from 1893.
Another map, from somewhere
around the 1920s and ’30s, puts
Umatilla County’s population at
3,084. Both of these are at the Uma-
tilla Museum. But the Umatilla
Museum is housed someplace new.
The museum is now located at 911
Sixth Street. This site once served as
the city hall and jail for Umatilla and
later served as the jail and a meeting
facility for the city council.
2) It’s time to hit the bricks for ren-
ovations. The city of Echo is in the
fi nal stages of raising the $360,000
necessary to prepare the 80-year-old
building to function as a community
center and expanded library.
Currently, the building at 20 S.
Bonanza St. houses the city hall and
a library, but for the building’s size,
both facilities are small. The library
takes up one room downstairs.
Hermiston Herald, File
Echo City Hall is pictured in 1996, as residents worked to raise money to
renovate it.
50 YEARS AGO
May 27, 1971
Refusal of some property owners
on Oregon Highway 32 to sign ease-
ments for the City of Hermiston to
improve the highway is leading to
the fi rst ever condemnation suit to be
fi led by the city.
It was revealed at a special city
council meeting May 20 that A.F.
Rohrman, owner of Rohrman Motor
Co. on the highway, and a leader to
the opposition to the improvement of
the highway, is refusing to sign.
2) Four West End high schools
held commencement exercises last
weekend, graduation a total of 271
students. Stanfi eld, with 25 gradu-
ating seniors, will hold commence-
ment exercises Friday, May 28 at
8 p.m. in the high school gym.
Hermiston Senior High held com-
mencement ceremonies Sunday eve-
ning in the football stadium, with
near-perfect weather prevailing for
the event. A crowd watched diplo-
mas awarded to 200 seniors.
75 YEARS AGO
May 30, 1946
Diesel engine units used to drive
General Sherman tanks across the
battlefi elds of Europe are being
rushed to Oregon for various critical
power needs, according to the Port-
land offi ce of War Assets administra-
tion. Each unit is composed of two
Hermiston Herald, File
Children walk along a new trail near Highland Hills Elementary School after its
dedication in 1996.
engines with a combined normal rat-
ing of 260 horsepower, but, due to
larger fuel jets used by the army, this
has been increased by 375 horse-
power. They sell for $2,800 per unit
in New York.
2) After occupying the corner
of First and Main in Hermiston for
more than 30 years, the frame build-
ing of the Hermiston Hotel is being
moved this week to the rear of the
lots to face First Street. Mrs. Walter
Smith, owner, states that a two-story
fi re-proof building is to occupy the
front of the lots from the corner to
the Moore and Ripley Drug Store as
soon as removal of the old building
is completed.
100 YEARS AGO
May 27, 1921
The largest eighth grade class in
the history of the school successfully
passed the state examinations at the
close of this year. Under the instruc-
tions of A.E. Bensel, thirty out of
thirty-three were granted diplo-
mas which makes full fl edged high
schoolers of them and they are anx-
iously awaiting the ringing of the
bell next fall when they can take
their places in the assembly room
with the other students.
The young people of the outgo-
ing eighth grade planned one more
happy day together, picnicking on
the banks of the river Friday after-
noon. They met at the school house
in the morning and enjoyed a regu-
lar picnic dinner at noon. The after-
noon was happily spent swimming,
playing games and just frolick-
ing like ordinary kids once more
before taking up the dignifi ed title of
“freshman.”
BY THE WAY
Memorial Day services planned for May 31
The Avenue of Flags is returning to the Hermiston
Cemetery for Memorial Day weekend. The display,
featuring hundreds of fl ags, will be erected Friday and
remain through Memorial Day — Monday, May 31.
The cemetery is open from daylight to dusk.
In addition, a Memorial Day ceremony is planned
Monday at 10 a.m. at the Hermiston Cemetery. The
program includes American Legion Post 37, the
Oregon National Guard and music provided by the
Hermiston High School band and choral groups.
Those planning to attend are encouraged to bring
a lawn chair, as seating is not provided. In addition,
COVID-19 guidelines are suggested.
• • •
Hermiston School District is providing a free
summer program to enrolled students in grades kin-
dergarten through fourth grade this summer.
The program will take place June 21 to July 31
(except July 5), Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m.
to 7 p.m.
According to an announcement from the school dis-
trict, the academic portion of the day will take place
from 7:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. with math, literacy and sci-
ence activities, plus fi eld trips and swimming lessons.
Afterward students will have the option of partici-
pating in sports, attending the Champions daycare or
going home for the day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner
will be provided free on site and transportation to and
from the program is also available.
Registration is May 24-28. Visit the Hermiston
School District Facebook page or hermiston.k12.or.us
to register.
• • •
People are invited for an evening of casual card play,
try out new decks, trade cards and meet new friends
during Magic: The Gathering.
The event is Saturday, June 5, from 7-10 p.m. at
Infi nity Watch Collectibles, 1300 Sixth St., Uma-
tilla. There is no entry fee. The event also will fea-
ture a movie, and free snacks and drinks. All ages are
welcome.
For more information, contact 541-571-6693 or visit
www.facebook.com/Infi nityWatchCollects.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for
Thursday, May 27, is baked chicken, mashed potatoes
and gravy, veggies and dessert. The menu for Tuesday,
June 1, is hamburgers, macaroni salad, baked beans and
dessert.
For a Meals on Wheels delivery in Hermiston, call
541-567-3582 before 10 a.m. to place an order.
To pick up a meal from the center at 255 N.E. Sec-
ond St., call the same number before 11 a.m. Meals are
$4 and can be picked up between 11:30 a.m. and noon.
The Boardman Senior Center is now providing
meal delivery. Meals are $4 paid upon delivery. Call
541-481-3257 to order.