Military Appreciation Night A Hit!

"This was great!" "Thank you for doing this!" and "We really enjoyed it! Are you going to do this again?" were a few of the comments from a large crowd of veterans and guests at the party's November 11 Military Appreciation Night. The capacity crowd at the Pearsall Building in Aberdeen enjoyed a chili feed with all the trimmings as well as entertainment by the Grays Harbor Banjo Band, a cake-cutting ceremony honoring the November 10 birthday of the United States Marine Corps, and keynote speaker Jesse Young, candidate for Congress, Sixth District.

County Chair Kristine Lowder welcomed friends and guests, thanking veterans and active duty military for "what you have done, are doing and what you continue to do for us and for our country." Rev. Dan Kennedy of Faith Tabernacle Church in Central Park opened with the Invocation, followed by a presentation of the colors by the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps from Olympia, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner. The Grays Harbor Banjo Band played a varied repertoire of vintage and patriotic music that was well-received.

Prefacing his comments with, "this is not a stump speech," Jesse Young noted the collective wisdom and experience evident in the room and the value of military service in mentoring the next generation.

Chris Lowder, USMCR and GHRP Vice-Chair, presided as senior officer over a cake-cutting ceremony honoring the United States Marine Corps' birthday. In keeping with tradition, the youngest marine present, Tom Davis, age 62, and his father, age 84, assisted in cutting the cake with Lowder's officer sword. The band played Happy Birthday as the crowd sang along. Naval Sea Cadets helped served cake to appreciative guests. The Banjo Band closed out the program with God Bless America.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic.

Special thanks to Chris Yeager for coordinating this event, Dennis Brumbaugh and Terry Moore for cooking, Beth De Vaul for serving, Jonathan Gerber, David Cannady, Ray Brown, Randy and Gail Dutton, Devin Backholm and Rob Erickson for clean up and take down. Great job!