Ephrata Veterans Day Parade going strong after 25 years

The Veteran’s Day Parade in Ephrata, put on by the American Legion Post 28 and Auxiliary Unit 28, is still going strong after a quarter of a century.

The parade this year had up to 100 onlookers and participants, with just 35 at the ceremony at the end. It started at 11 a.m. Thursday and featured some regular participants, as well as some new ones.

One new attendee was a 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor and World War II veteran, Geb Galle, who relocated to Grant County within the past year.

This was also the first year for Time of Remembrance, a project to recognize and remember fallen veterans. A large trailer with a double-sided board was pulled by truck and featured fallen soldiers’ photos and names. All the fallen soldiers on the board were either from the Pacific Northwest or served there.

This was the 24th parade in 25 years, since 2020’s parade was canceled due to COVID-19, parade chairman Mike Montaney said.

Montaney said the Ephrata parade was started in 1996 because the local American Legion got tired of traveling to the Veterans Day Parade in Wenatchee every year. Montaney said traveling to the parade became difficult for some participants.

Montaney said it was hard not hosting the parade last year.

“Especially missing the meal down at the post,” he joked.

The parade ended at the Grant County Superior Courthouse, where “Taps” was played at the Vietnam Memorial in the front.

After the parade, the American Legion hosted a luncheon for parade participants and veterans.

“I enjoy getting together with the other vets, and Veterans Day is a good day to do it,” Montaney said.