Ephrata parade thanks veterans Saturday

by Matthew Weaver<br>Herald Staff Writer
| November 10, 2006 8:00 PM

EPHRATA - Pay close attention on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

That's the time the ninth annual Veterans Day parade offers the first of two tributes Saturday, as it passes a memorial in front of the Ephrata Recreation Center for those from Ephrata who served.

The Honor Guard fires a traditional 21-gun salute at the memorial, and again at the conclusion of the parade by a memorial for Grant County veterans.

The parade kicks off a little earlier Saturday morning, stepping off from the Grant County Courthouse about 10:45 a.m. It proceeds down C Street to Second Avenue, turns onto Basin Street and then turns on First Avenue NW to return to the courthouse, said Jane Montaney of the American Legion Auxiliary, Art Semro Post 28, which is hosting the event.

Each year, Montaney hopes to see more people at the event.

"As far as I'm concerned, this Veterans Day parade is an opportunity for the people themselves to come out and show their support for the people that have served for them," she said. "Unfortunately, a lot of people look at it as another day to have a day off work."

The parade is comprised of veterans and people who pay tribute to them.

"The people that do participate, we're very, very grateful for," she said. "Every year, I hope that we get to be bigger and bigger, and the general citizenry will come out and really honor the veterans that have served."

A group of veterans from McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Soap Lake are coming via bus to be in the parade.

"We think that's fantastic," Montaney said.

Every single job a person in the military does is important to preserving freedom, she said, whether it's on U.S. soil or foreign soil.

"You'd be surprised how many veterans we have that don't think of themselves as veterans," she said. "Just because they didn't serve on foreign soil makes them no less a veteran. Someone in the military goes where they are ordered to go."

Montaney reminds people just because Saturday is the official Veterans Day, it doesn't mean veterans should be forgotten any other day.

"Anytime they meet somebody that's served, the first words out of their mouth should be 'Thank you,' 365 days out of the year," she said. "We should be giving thanks for what we have, and not take it for granted."

A luncheon for parade participants follows the event.