Vancouver Memorial Day Observance to be held

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The Community Military Appreciation Committee (CMAC) will present Vancouver’s Memorial Day Observance Mon., May 25, 2015, at 11 a.m., taking place at the Bandstand on the Fort Vancouver Historic Site Parade Grounds.

CMAC has organized this event with help from its partners, the City of Vancouver, National Park Service (NPS), Fort Vancouver National Trust, Armed Forces Reserve Center, and 40 et 8 for seven years.

The event features keynote speaker Brigadier General Kurt J. Ryan. A graduate of York College of Pennsylvania, Brigadier General Kurt J. Ryan was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Ordnance Corps in 1987.

BG Ryan’s 27-year career in command and staff positions has allowed him to participate in numerous operations in defense of freedom and liberty. Most notably, he deployed to the first Gulf War in Kuwait and Iraq (1990-1991); served in Germany (1992-1996); participated in peace enforcement operations in Bosnia and Croatia (1996); participated in the campaign to liberate Iraq (2003); assisted in the rescue, relief and recovery of suffering U.S. citizens in New Orleans following Hurricanes’ Katrina and Rita (2005); served in Afghanistan with a Combined and Joint Task Force (CJTF-82) and NATO International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) (2007-2008), and returned from a short deployment to Afghanistan and Kuwait with the 1st TSC and 143rd ESC (2009).



BG Ryan’s last service in Afghanistan (2011-12) was as Commander, 10th Sustainment Brigade, headquartered in Bagram. He subsequently served the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Material Readiness in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (2012-13). He is currently the Commanding General for the 593rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary).

BG Ryan’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with OLC, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with OLC, and the Army Meritorious Service Medal with 5 OLC. He proudly wears the Master Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Ranger tab.

Other speakers at the Memorial Day Ceremony include US Army Col. John Sweeney, Commander of the 2nd Brigade 95th Division located at the Armed Forces Reserve Center, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler, Vancouver Mayor Timothy Leavitt, and National Park Service Superintendent Tracy Fortmann.

This event has been sponsored by Waste Connections for the last five years and will be emceed by CMAC members. Learn more about CMAC at www.cmac11.com.