Events set to honor Bend’s heroes, past and present
Published: November 07. 2009 4:00AM PST
With Veterans Day approaching Wednesday, a variety of local events are scheduled to celebrate military personnel.
Sunday kicks off the celebrations with the Marine Corps birthday run and walk. The 10th annual event features a 5K run and one-mile walk beginning at Bend City Hall and traveling along the Deschutes River. Both races will end at Riverfront Plaza at the top of Drake Park in downtown Bend. The race costs $16, or $21 for participants who want a shirt. Racers can register until the start of the event, although attempting to sign up after 8:30 a.m. Sunday is not recommended. Proceeds will be used to purchase a van to transport disabled American veterans to the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
On Wednesday, Veterans Day ushers in an abundance of events, including the 10th annual Veterans Day Parade through Bend starting at 11 a.m. This year’s parade has a “Stand Up for Veterans” theme, and will proceed east on Newport Avenue over the Veterans Memorial Bridge, south on Wall Street to Franklin Avenue and around Drake Park before concluding at the intersection of Galveston Avenue and Harmon Boulevard. Oregon Army National Guard service members will act as grand marshals for the parade, and an F-15 fighter jet flyover is planned at 11:20 a.m.
After Bend’s parade, a dedication for the Bend Heroes Memorial will be held at Brooks Park. Two granite pedestals, which honor fallen veterans and first responders from Bend, will be unveiled. The names of the deceased, 109 for the Bend Veterans Peace Memorial and four for the Bend First Responders Memorial, will be engraved on the granite.
“It had to be done,” said Dick Tobiason, the project manager for the Bend Heroes Memorial. “It’s something that towns and cities across America do to honor their veterans. ... It’s about time we did it.”
The memorials will be located adjacent to the Deschutes River in Brooks Park.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4108 will host a parade Wednesday in Redmond, which will proceed south at 11 a.m. down Sixth Street, starting at Dogwood Avenue and ending at Evergreen Avenue. A barbecue will be held immediately afterward at the VFW post.
Prineville’s parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Second Street, near Pioneer Park, and will proceed north to Ochoco Creek Park and the memorial located there.
Film Oregon Alliance will round out Bend’s Veterans Day events with a screening of “Everyman’s War” at the Tower Theatre. The film tells the story of Sgt. Don Smith and his unit as they defend the German town of Nennig from attack during the Battle of Bulge. Admission is free, though donations are accepted and will benefit Central Oregon veterans.
Other events on Wednesday include an open house at VFW Post 1643 in Bend from noon to 6 p.m., during which the public will be invited to meet military service members and veterans. The Bend Schlotzky’s will also offer free meals to veterans and active duty military throughout the day.
The week’s events will conclude Saturday with a chili cook-off challenge at the Bend VFW post. The public can sign up to compete in either the red or green chili category. Registration is open through Saturday, and each entry carries a $20 fee. Attendees can buy bowls of house chili at the cook-off, which will be prepared by Vietnam veteran Terry Rasmussan. DJ Jess Morgan will provide music for the event.
All events throughout the week are open to the public and free for spectators, unless otherwise noted.
Breanna Hostbjor can be reached at 541-383-0351 or at bhostbjor@bendbulletin.com.
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