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Our beautiful state capital building ~ Olympia, Washington
 
Washington State WW II War Memorial Rededication Ceremony ~ December 7, 2010 ~ Olympia State Capital Grounds
 
   
Looking from the rear of the tent forward - It got to the point where it was standing room only
 
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A display of the
various shoulder patches that are, or have been, worn by service
members of the Pacific Northwest |
American Legion band that performed in the Presentation of Colors, the National Anthem, Amazing
Grace and an Armed Forces Medley
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From a forward vantage point looking to the rear of tent
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Pretty important event with the looks of all the photography and video camera folks
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Welcome presentation by Col. Rick Patterson (Ret.), Washington Army National Guard
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Washington Army National Guard honor guard presents colors at the opening of the rededication ceremony
 
Mike Gregoire, husband of Washington State Governor Christine "Chris" Gregoire, and a
Vietnam war veteran, stands alongside keynote speaker Rear Admiral Herbert M. Bridge (Ret)
flanked by an unidentified Marine Lt. Colonel and Marine Master Sergeant
 
Pearl Harbor attack survivor George Smith (USS Oklahoma BB-37) during introduction to attendees
Speakers and dignitaries turn heads towards Pearl Harbor attack survivor George Smith (USS Oklahoma BB-37)
upon his introduction to the audience
 
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Director Joyce Turner
Washington State Department of General Administration
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Director John E. Lee
Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs
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Keynote speaker Rear Admiral Herbert M. Bridge (Ret)
Admiral Bridge (U.S. Navy, retired) is a veteran of World War II and of the Korean War
and was in the Navy for 41 years prior to his retirement on March 14, 1985 at the age of 60.
American Legion band playing an Armed Forces Medley, theme songs from the five branches of the
armed forces, just prior to closing ceremonies. As the various service branch theme songs were played,
members of each respective armed service (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard),
in attendance, stood and were recognized.
 
Washington Army National Guard honor guard strikes colors upon completion of the rededication ceremony
 
 
After the ceremonies, participants and attendees gathered outside for lighthearted conversation and comradre
(notice flags flying at half-mast)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pearl Harbor veteran and McCleary, Washington resident Phil McCully chats with Brig. Gen. Lloyd Miles,
Deputy Commanding General of I Corps, Joint Base Lewis McChord, along with his military aide
after the rededication ceremony on the Washington State Capitol grounds.
On November 18, 2010, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced that the President has nominated
Brig. Gen. Miles for appointment to the rank of major general.
Some former military personnel have permanent injuries brought about by military service on behalf of his or her country.
Native Americans, too, have served with distinction in our armed forces.
 
Rear Admiral Herbert (Herb) M. Bridge (U.S. Navy, retired) speaking with an unidentified former member
of the armed forces at completion of rededication ceremonies
 
 
Washington State World War II Memorial ~ On the Capital Grounds ~ Olympia, Washington
 
Naming bricks again can be read at the restored World War Two Memorial
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Washington State WW II War Memorial
Rededication
Ceremony ~ December 7, 2010
Olympia Washington State Capital Grounds
This event coincided with
the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
and honored the restoration of the memorial
A rededication of Washington
State’s World War II Memorial took place at 11:00 a.m. December 7, 2010,
on the grounds of the Washington State Capital building and coincided with
the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and honored the restoration of the
memorial. December 7, 2010 was the 69th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day.
Washington State’s World
War II Memorial was one of the first in the country to honor those who
served in World War II and was originally dedicated in 1999.
Spearheading the event were
Washington State’s Departments of Veterans Affairs and of General
Administration.
Simon Kogan, the Olympia
artist who created the memorial in 1999, restored the memorial and recreated
the ghost images on the memorial’s five bronze blades, images which
represent members of the armed forces as well as the civilians who
participated in the conflict on the home front.
The 14-foot-high blades
contain the names of the nearly 6,000 Washingtonians who were killed in the
war. The memorial’s large granite stones are engraved with major battles
fought by year and is surrounded by nearly 3,000 tiles (naming bricks), most
of which include an engraved personal message from a family member or friend
of a Washington veteran who served in the war. The tiles were installed
during the summer of 2010 and replaced weathered original tiles.
Keynote speaker was Rear
Admiral Herbert M. Bridge, U.S. Navy (retired), whose stellar comments were
augmented by talks by John Lee of the Department of Veterans Affairs and
Joyce Turner from Washington State’s General Administration Department. A
Washington Army National Guard honor guard opened and closed the
rededication ceremony. Welcoming was by Col. Rick Patterson (retired),
Washington Army National Guard. Invocation was by Padre Francis Jeffery,
Military Order of the Purple Heart. |
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Washington Soldiers Home
1301 Orting-Kapowsin Hwy.
PO Box 500
Orting, WA 98360
(360) 893-4515 |
Washington Veterans Home
1141 Beach Dr.
PO Box 698
Retsil, WA 98378
(360) 895-4700 |
Spokane Veterans Home
222 East 5th Ave.
Spokane, WA 99202
(509) 344-5770 |
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