Soldier honored at Smokiam Days
Bed races are a feature of Smokiam Days in Soap Lake. The event takes place Saturday after the parade on Main Street.
SOAP LAKE — A soldier killed in a training accident in Spokane is the grand marshal of Soap Lake’s Smokiam Days’ parade.
SOAP LAKE — A soldier killed in a training accident in Spokane is the grand marshal of Soap Lake’s Smokiam Days’ parade.
Chuck Fogerson, an organizer for the event, said he’s always supported the military, and received an entry for the parade from a family friend of Yancey L. Goodwin. The entry was for a 1947 Willys Jeep with an empty seat to commemorate the dead soldier.
“It’s a representative for all the soldiers that have died in service to their country,” he said. “I kind of claim him as a local boy. He went to Almira/Coulee-Hartline (High School).”
The parade is one of the first events at Soap Lake’s annual Fourth of July celebration. The event starts Saturday morning with a pancake breakfast at the Soap Lake Senior Center located at 121 Second Ave. SE.
Staging for the parade begins at 9 a.m. in front of McKay Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, located at 127 Second Ave. Fogerson said anyone can participate in the parade.
“We have a very open-door parade. If they show up before the last unit steps off they can join,” he said. “The only thing is if they show up after 10 a.m. they’re not eligible for the judging.”
Fogerson is asking veterans to join the parade behind the jeep as an honor unit.
“This is to draw attention and to say thank you for their service that many of them paid,” he said. “We’re honoring that family and we’re also honoring all the veterans.”
Following the parade is an exhibition of the soap box derby racers. More than 30 cars competed in races at the end of May. Fogerson said the Boy Scout troop, which sponsored the race, is holding the exhibition.
A horseshoe tournament is planned for 10 a.m. at East Beach Park and vendors are also scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the park.
The event continues on Sunday with the annual Salmon Feed at the Soap Lake Businessmen’s Club between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets cost $14 for adults and $7 for children 10 years old and younger. Children can also have a hotdog, watermelon and a drink for $2.
“It’s a fund-raiser for the chamber,” Fogerson said. “It raises funds for the fireworks.”
The event finishes Sunday with fireworks set off above the lake. Fogerson said a sing-along of patriotic songs is taking place prior to the fireworks.
“It’s unabashedly American and patriotic,” he said. “It’s to have fun. It’s to be patriotic. If it goes normally they’re going to fire off at about a quarter to 10.”
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