In the weeks leading up to Veterans Day, a small group gathered to unveil and dedicate a special Veterans Monument Stone in the new Veterans Memorial Garden at the North Bend, Washington City Hall. The Veterans Memorial Garden and Monument was the result of a year-long collaboration between Renton-Pickering American Legion Post 79, VFW Post 3436, the Snoqualmie Tribe, Snoqualmie Casino and the City of North Bend to honor all those who answered the call to serve in the U.S. Military.
Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the project did not materialize in the spring as planned but the group was still committed to funding and executing the important memorial at all costs.
At the long-awaited unveiling, American Legion Post 79 Commander Rocky Martinez said, “We dedicate this site as a sacred place in North Bend where people will gather to take pictures, where veterans will gather to share experiences with each other or just stand or sit alone to ponder thoughts they can never share with anyone else.”
Snoqualmie Tribal Chairman Robert de los Angeles reflected on being part of the collaboration that brought the memorial to fruition: “As a member of the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe and a Vietnam Era Veteran, I feel a strong sense of pride being a part of this important project. As a tribe, we hold our warriors in the highest regard. This memorial is a small way for us to express our gratitude to the courageous men and women who protect our country both past and present.”
The Memorial Garden and Monument is intended to be a permanent reminder of sacrifices that were made and will be made in service to our country, and also as a place of reflection for veterans, their family members and the community as a whole.
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