Parade marshal choice well-deserved

Like many other Vietnam veterans, Moses Lake's Bill Wiester returned home to a divided country not fully supportive of the United States' role in Southeast Asia.

Despite his injuries, he survived a battle on the Cambodian border when some of his men did not.

After his service, Wiester went on to receive several honors, including the Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star.

He represented his country with honor and worked in law enforcement for 33 years. He finished his career as Grant County sheriff.

When recalling his return home in 1970, Vietnam veterans didn't arrive to parades and pats on the back, Wiester said this week during an interview with the Columbia Basin Herald.

Wiester showed restraint in his comments and took the high road when recalling a difficult time for our country and veterans. We can be proud to have such a wonderful person in our community.

This weekend, Wiester gets his parade as grand marshal of the event. He is also using the opportunity to represent other veterans in the Columbia Basin, including Don Gillespie of Warden, Jim Thompson of Moses Lake, and Larry Lobe of Odessa, Wiester said.

Starting at 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Wiester appears in the Moses Lake Spring Festival's Moonlight Parade.

This is an awesome opportunity to honor Wiester and other veterans by watching the parade with friends and family during this Memorial Day weekend. It's also a great chance to teach the next generation about the sacrifices of our veterans.

The selection of Bill Wiester as the parade's grand marshal was appropriate and well-deserved.

We thank him for his years of service to our country and to Grant County. We also thank the countless veterans who served and didn't return home.

- Editorial Board