Issaquah’s Veterans Day ceremony honors locals’ service
November 6, 2012
Due to its growing popularity, the service that the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3436 hosts honoring local services members will be in a new location this year.
David Waggoner, of the Issaquah VFW, figures the Issaquah Valley Senior Center will be large enough to house the 60 to 70 expected attendees. All residents are invited, regardless of whether they’ve served in the military.
VFW hosts Memorial Day commemoration in Issaquah
May 22, 2012
Issaquah residents will have the opportunity to remember and celebrate local veterans who have given their lives in the line of military service at 10 a.m. May 28 at Issaquah’s Hillside Cemetery in an annual observance of Memorial Day.
The Issaquah High School Junior Naval ROTC will facilitate a 21-gun salute and provide the color guard for the event. It will be the final public performance of the group after more than 40 years of service, event organizer Dave Waggoner said. ROTC will no longer be offered at the school after this school year.
City, neighbors dedicate Squak Mountain forest to Maureen McCarry
November 15, 2011
Former councilwoman led effort to protect Squak Mountain woods
Maureen McCarry (right), a former councilwoman and Forest Rim resident, flashes a thumbs-up to city Parks Planner Margaret Macleod at the dedication ceremony for McCarry Woods on Nov. 12. By Warren Kagarise
The thicket — all gold and green beneath a November sky the same color as chalk — adjacent to the Forest Rim neighborhood on Squak Mountain shares the name of a person instrumental in protecting the land for future generations.
Veterans receive salute at Issaquah ceremony
November 15, 2011
A World War II Navy veteran, Paul Miller has been through his share of Veterans Day celebrations.
Issaquah High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps members present a 21-gun salute to close the Veterans Day celebration at the Issaquah Valley Senior Center on Nov. 11. See a slideshow of photos at www.issaquahpress.com. By Tom Corrigan
Not surprisingly, he still thinks those remembrances are important and worthwhile.
“We need to pay our respects and honor those who have served and … especially those who made that ultimate sacrifice,” he said following the 45-minute commemoration at the Issaquah Valley Senior Center on Veterans Day.
The ceremony ended with a 21-gun salute provided by the Issaquah High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps.
“Veterans do not take life for granted,” said veteran and Issaquah City Councilman Fred Butler, who presented the keynote talk during the event. “They know that duty and sacrifice are more than words.”
Butler said the country has a new breed of veterans in those returning from often multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Too many veterans with real skills cannot find jobs in this economy,” he said.
He urged those listening to get to know those new veterans and help and hire them if possible.
Issaquah Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3436, led by David Waggoner, presented the Veterans Day event. For his part, Waggoner’s talk highlighted an Issaquah vet he believes deserves more attention then she has gotten so far.
Community dedicates Squak Mountain forest to Maureen McCarry
November 12, 2011
Former Councilwoman Maureen McCarry (right) greets a well-wisher at the dedication ceremony for Squak Mountain's McCarry Woods on Saturday. By Warren Kagarise
NEW — 1 p.m. Nov. 12, 2011
The thicket — all gold and green beneath a November sky the same color as chalk — adjacent to the Forest Rim neighborhood on Squak Mountain shares the name of a person instrumental in protecting the land for future generations.
Issaquah Veterans of Foreign Wars leads annual Veterans Day celebration
November 11, 2011
Issaquah High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps members present a 21-gun salute to close the Veterans Day celebration at the Issaquah Valley Senior Center on Friday. By Tom Corrigan
NEW — 1:19 p.m. Nov. 11, 2011
A World War II Navy veteran, Paul Miller has been through his share of Veterans Day celebrations.
Not surprisingly, he still thinks those remembrances are important and worthwhile.
Veterans Day ceremony honors service
November 8, 2011
Dave Waggoner is tireless in his efforts to ensure both today’s military members are honored and yesterday’s heroes are not forgotten.
Issaquah ceremony offers chance to reflect on 9/11
September 6, 2011
“To me, it was one of the worst days in our nation’s history,” Eastside Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Bud Backer said of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
But the way the country came together in the aftermath of those attacks can be pointed to as a source of pride, Backer added.
To mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the city of Issaquah, EFR, city police and other civic groups are joining in a public ceremony 1 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Issaquah Community Center.
Off the Press
May 31, 2011
Veterans have earned their place of honor
I had tears in my eyes Memorial Day as about 200 people gathered at Hillside Cemetery to honor and remember veterans.
Kathleen R. Merrill Press editor
I’ve always thought that veterans got short shrift in some respects. But on this day, those who are living, those who have passed away and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice were the focus of young and old. Thank you to everyone who turned out.
I loved seeing the people, again young and old, who have served or are serving their country, lined up in front of the crowd. It always touches my heart especially to see the men and women who served in Vietnam and World War II standing up there, saluting the flag or standing at attention.
I hope you saw our second annual section — Lest We Forget — in last week’s paper. We are continuing to collect photos of and information about people from our community who have served in all branches of the armed forces.
Off the Press
May 24, 2011
Here’s to those who help us remember
Sometimes we all need a little reminder. Thank goodness we have people like Dave Waggoner in the Issaquah community.
Bob Taylor Press sports editor
Waggoner, a quartermaster in the Issaquah Veterans of Foreign Wars post, once left a small U.S. flag at the office so I would always remember Memorial Day. The flag still flies above my desk.
Each year, Waggoner, members of the VFW post and local Boy Scouts plant flags and/or crosses on the graves of former veterans at Hillside Cemetery for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Waggoner makes sure these former vets are remembered.
Waggoner expressed a concern in an April Issaquah Press story that people are forgetting U.S. veterans. With Memorial Day coming up, none of us should forget veterans, especially those in our family.
I do a roll call every Memorial Day, setting aside some time to remember the veterans in my family.
