Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
March of flags, new memorial, ceremonies held
A volunteer carries a flag during Ruck for the Fallen on May 29 near Malden.
COLFAX - A new memorial in Endicott, a ceremony in Colfax, and a 13 mile march from Malden to St. John all paid tribute to fallen military personnel.
Ruck for the Fallen was a march of flags from the Malden fire hall to the St. John park on May 22. A "ruck" is a forced march by people in the military.
"Ruck for the fallen honors our fallen military and first responders with flags that travel across the country. These flags are signed by individuals from different agencies and transported across the United States. They are given to the family of the fallen member to honor their loved ones memory and sacrifice," states founder Mitch Kriebel.
The organization raises fund to help "families who have lost a first-responder, an active military member or veteran in the line of duty" in receiving help for mental, physical, and emotional problems stemming from their loss.
The Endicott Community Club and the cemetery district raised funds to place a veterans' memorial in the Endicott Cemetery. The memorial was dedicated in a ceremony on May 29.
Kelvin Morasch designed the memorial bearing a flying eagle, six flags, and the words, "Thank You for Your Service."
Colfax FFA, rotary and volunteers placed flags at more than 700 graves of veterans in the Colfax Cemetery as part of a ceremony to honor the fallen on May 31. Family members placed flowers at graves, a poem was recited and speakers paid tribute to the fallen.
Bill Stevenson is the former editor of the Whitman County Gazette, Colfax Daily Bulletin and Franklin Connection. He has nearly 30 years of journalism experience covering news in Eastern Washington.
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