Douglas County Veterans Viewpoint: Reedsport Parade, Diamond N Vets, UVARTS
The 2017 Reedsport Memorial Weekend Parade will be happening Sunday, May 28. The first in a series of events commemorating Memorial Day, the parade will kick off at 1:30 p.m.
The parade route begins at Longwood Drive’s intersection with US 101, proceeds north on US 101 to 10thStreet, to Winchester Avenue, then left on Winchester Avenue to the far side of the railroad tracks where the parade will disband near the Hahn Memorial.
Following the parade, at 3 p.m. there will be a Memorial Service at Hahn Park War Memorial. At 4 p.m. a Meet & Greet a the Presbyterian Church, followed by dinner at 5 p.m. The day finishes with a Patriotic Concert at Pacific Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m.
The following day, Monday, May 29, there will be a memorial service at 10 a.m. at the Masonic Cemetery on Longwood Drive.
Looking to participate? Check-in will be at noon, at Longwood Drive across from Pacific Auditorium in Reedsport. Look for the Rotary Blue Tent and signs. Entry number and placement will be determined during registration at check-in.
People interested in participating in the parade must submit their completed and signed entry forms by Monday, May 22. Forms can be either dropped off at the Reedsport Chamber of Commerce on Frontage Road, or mailed to Reedsport Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce, 2741 Frontage Road, Reedsport, OR 97467.
This year’s theme is “Salute in Remembrance”. The parade is designed to appeal to veterans and families throughout the area. All parade entrants are required to recognize and observe the parade’s purpose and theme. Entrants wishing to incorporate the battlefield cross in their entry can be provided an 8”x8” jpg filed by email.
Volunteers and donations are still needed. For more information visit their website at www.reedsportmemorialparade.org, or contact Jim Wells at 541-999-9136 or jwells36@frontier.com .
The Fifth Annual Diamond N Vets event is scheduled for Wednesday, June 14, at the Diamond Lake Resort Lodge. The annual event provides veterans an opportunity to spend a wonderful day fishing Diamond Lake.
“It’s a good time,” said Dick Kreger, event organizer. “We have volunteer boat captains to take people fishing. The only thing the veteran needs is a fishing license and transportation to and from Diamond Lake.”
The event kicks off at 7 a.m. at the Diamond Lake Resort Lodge, where a light breakfast is provided. Breakfast is followed by fishing, which usually wraps up around 2 p.m.
“Some people decide to skip breakfast and head straight to fishing,” said Kreger. “Once the wind starts coming up later in the morning it gets a little rough.”
The only qualification is that participants be a veteran. However, any veteran wishing to participate must pre-register, so organizers know how many people to plan for.
Diamond N Vets is also looking for addition boat captains and first mates to assist captains. Diamond N Vets has arranged insurance through the Purple Heart Association.
Anyone interested in being a boat captain or first mate, providing a boat, tackle, and pole, please contact Dick Kreger at 541-670-1384. Veterans interested in participating should contact Ken Rice at 208-520-5514. You can also find Diamond N Vets on Facebook.
Also in June, The Umpqua Valley Arts Association celebrates the centennial anniversary of their home by hosting a series of events through the end of the year.
Titled “From Soldiers Hospital to Arts Center”, the series kicks off Saturday, June 24 with an Honor Walk from the old armory in downtown Roseburg to the VA Cemetery on Harvard Avenue. The public is invited, and veterans are especially encouraged to participate.
Other activities through the end of the year will include the planting of a Victory Garden with heritage seeds, a music barbeque, and near the end of the year a curated exhibit featuring veterans art. More details will follow in later columns.
God bless our veterans and God bless America.
