FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2024
Commissioners Issue Proclamation in Honor of
Veterans and Military Families Month
(Douglas County, Oregon) – The Douglas County Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation today, Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at the Weekly Business Meeting calling upon all citizens of Douglas County to celebrate and honor Veterans and Military Families Month. The proclamation also recognized and invited residents to honor all veterans on Veterans Day and attend the 69th Annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade. Board Chair Commissioner Boice welcomed everyone to the meeting and said, “It is always a pleasure to have our Veterans here!” He then presented the proclamation, on behalf of the Board and acknowledged that, “since the establishment of the original 13 states, Americans have been willing to fight and die to preserve their individual rights as guaranteed in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights and we can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to those heroic men and women who served, were wounded, or died in battle.” A copy of the video presentation can be found on the Douglas County Government website: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/134059616.
“As Commissioner Boice mentioned, it is always one of our favorite days when we get to recognize our veteran community. We are honored to continue to set aside a day to honor Veterans, our annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade and celebrate Military Families Month.” - Commissioner Tom Kress.
Commissioner Tim Freeman presented proclamation certificates to U.S. Military Veterans, Veteran Service and Support Groups, and Military Family Members in attendance: Representative Virgil Osborne, Dan Loomis (US Army), Eric Bagwell (USAF & VDay Parade Chair), John Pierson (USAF, Military Honors by the Pipes & Wreaths Across America), Jim Little (US Navy), Carmen Little, Rick Sciapiti (US Army), Bill Mixon (US Army), Jim Barnett (USMC), Roger Boucock (US Army), Bill Duncan (US Army & VVA President), Bob (US Army) and Cherrie Miller, Nikol Hansen (Roseburg VA), Michael Kurtz (US Army), Neil Hummel (USMC), Larry Hill (US Army & American Legion), Ed Goodman (US Navy & VVA 805), Frank Escalante (US Army & VVA Honor Guard), Lonnie Shields (USAF & VVA Honor Guard), Jason Ainslie (US Army), Mary Newman-Keyes (DC Veterans Service Office), Ron Dukes (USAF, NCO & VVA Honor Guard), Ruth Feliciano (AVVA #805), Cecilia McMillian (National Guard & AWVA President), Heidi Wood (Military Honors by the Pipes), Terry Rudolf (US Navy & VVA Honor Guard), James Horton (US Navy & VFW Oregon - State Surgeon), Jerry Anderson (US Navy, VAC & DCVF), Fran Polmateer (AVFW Aux 4039), Ron Roof (US Navy), Peter Riza (US Army), Jim Gilly (Veteran), Robert Howerton (Veteran), Ron (US Army) & Margaret Silverman, and Doug Page (USMC). Veteran service groups and supporters represented were Douglas County Veterans Forum; Douglas County Veterans Advisory Committee; Douglas County Veterans Day Parade Committee; Douglas County Veterans Service Office; Vietnam Veterans of America – Chapter 805, Auxiliary & Honor Guard; American Legion Post 16 & 123 & Auxiliaries; Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 2468 & 4039 & Auxiliaries; Roseburg Veterans Administration; American Women Veterans Association; Non Commissioned Officers Association; Military Order of the Purple Heart; Wreaths Across America – Douglas County; and Military Honors by the Pipes.
“There have been some high points in my life and recognized as a Vietnam War Veteran for the Veterans Day Parade is a very high point in my life. I very much appreciate this proclamation from the Douglas County Commissioners. We didn’t get much of a welcome home from Vietnam, so this is fantastic. I hear many veterans say this is not the Country I fought for – but for me Douglas County is exactly the home I fought for. I think Douglas County should be a model & inspiration for the rest of the nation on how to honor veterans. Just as each of us veterans had each other’s backs in the service, we know that Douglas County has our back!” - Jim Little, US Navy Retired, Douglas County Veterans Forum and Douglas County Veterans Advisory Committee member.
The 69th Annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade is scheduled to take place in downtown Roseburg on Monday, November 11, 2024, beginning at 11:00 am. The Douglas County Veterans Day Parade has a long-standing tradition of honoring our veterans on the Veterans Day Holiday and has been held in Roseburg every single year since 1955. The worthy and steadfast tradition has a well-earned title as “Oregon’s Greatest Veterans Day Parade.” This year the Grand Marshals for the Douglas County Veterans Day parade will be Vietnam Veterans with the theme “Vietnam Beyond 50 Years - Welcome Home.”
“During the Veterans Day Parade about 15 years ago, was the first time I was ever thanked for my service. I was riding on the Vietnam Veterans of America float, and it made me emotional. It was truly the first time I had ever heard the words thank you. So, it is really important to support our veterans. I was born and raised here in Roseburg. It is the greatest place in the world to live. I want to thank the Commissioners, all my brothers and everyone here today.” – Roger Boucock, U.S. Army Veteran and Vice President, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 805.
The 69th Annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade will follow the traditional route through downtown Roseburg starting on the corner of NE Fowler Street and NE Diamond Lake Blvd, turning left onto NE Jackson Street, which becomes SE Jackson Street, turning left onto SE Lane Street, left onto SE Main Street, right onto SE Douglas Avenue and concluding in front of the Douglas County Courthouse. We encourage citizens to make sure they fill ALL spaces along the entire parade route (both sides of the street and sidewalks) to make sure that our participating veterans receive ample accolades for their dedicated service to our county as they move along the parade route. Douglas County Veterans Day Parade applications can be downloaded from the county website here or picked up in the Douglas County Veterans Service Office (VSO) at the Douglas County Courthouse located at 1036 SE Douglas Avenue in Roseburg. Applications can be returned to the VSO or the Douglas County Clerk’s Office. The parade application deadline is Thursday, October 31, 2024, for those that want their entry to be judged.
Additionally, Eric Bagwell, Chair of the Douglas County Veterans Day Parade Committee announced that the 69th Annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade will be nationally recognized once again this year, as one of only 56 regional Veterans Day sites selected as the Top 2024 Veterans Day Observances Across the United States, by the National Veterans Day Committee. This is the 69th year that the Douglas County Veterans Day Parade has been awarded this honor.
“My fellow Commissioners and I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all veterans and their families for their unwavering service and sacrifice to our nation. For those of you that have taken time out of your day to join us here, thank you! We absolutely appreciate having you come to the courthouse and give us a chance to honor you in our small way. I want to make sure you hear this from us again, “Thank you for your service”. We truly mean that. We also mean it when we say, “Welcome Home”. Douglas County is home for you!” - Commissioner & Douglas County Veteran Service Office liaison, Tim Freeman.
Please join us in honoring our veterans today and every day, but especially during the month of November, on Veterans Day and at the 69th Annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade in downtown Roseburg, on Monday, November 11, 2024. For more information about the parade click on the link here. The proclamation presented today is a reminder for our citizens to recognize the valor, courage, and sacrifice these patriots and their families have made. It also a time to rededicate ourselves to the preservation of our liberties under the Constitution of the United States.
On a final note, the Commissioners reminded everyone about the upcoming Wreaths Across America event at the Roseburg National Cemetery on December 14, 2024. This year, our local Wreaths Across America committee will make history by placing a wreath on every grave, and we invite citizens to join us by signing up to volunteer. For more information visit tinyurl.com/douglascountywreaths.
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Media Contact: Tamara Howell, Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist, Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov
Proclamation Attached. Photos © K.Trenkle/Douglas County. Individual photos are available upon request.