Green River hosted a veteran program on Veteran’s Day evening at the river history museum. The scouts presented the flag ceremony and a group of local youth sang the National Anthem.
Kathy Ryan said they are trying to get enough interest in Green River to raise funds for a veterans monument. She invited all interested to get involved.
Joann Chandler is the archives specialist in Green River. She started a veterans project to collect veterans names and as many pictures and stories as she could. She started with 300 and now has 600 names with photos for 350. She collected more names on the day of the program.
A patriotic video was shown which featured President Ronald Reagan honoring World War I veterans. He said veterans know better than he, what they went through and what Veteran’s Day means to those veterans who have served.
Green River Mayor Pat Brady said he is grateful to all veterans. Our strong country is due to the sacrifices the veterans have made. “We should never forget those who have sacrificed for us. It’s easy to take our liberty for granted. Not just on Veteran’s Day, but every day we should have the highest appreciation for our veterans. We should make all veterans feel they are the most important people in the world so we can live here without fear.”
Veterans in attendance this night included: Warren Sorensen, John Calvin Bastian, Alton Burns, Clark Riches, Harold Nelson, Donald Meadows, Nicholas Erwin, Jacob Walker and Randy Ford. Everyone gathered in the basement of the museum after the program for refreshments and to browse the uniforms and memorabilia on display as well as the wall prepared with the veterans names from Green River.
Mayor Brady read the following poem.
It Is The Soldier
It is the Soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer, Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protestor to burn the flag.
Green River City honors its Veterans
"Green River Veterans are recognized at the program."