Navy veteran John Schumacher speaks of his time in boot camp while being honored at Mallard Landing in Battle Ground last Thursday morning.
Extra splashes of red, white and blue could be spotted in Battle Ground and elsewhere in North Clark County late last week and into the weekend as residents made small and grand gestures to show their appreciation for local veterans.
When the Hockinson Hawks faced off against Pullman at Battle Ground District Stadium on Friday, some of the players wore armbands representing the American flag, while another wore a similar bandana, and much of the cheering section was filled with students clad in red, white and blue. Earlier that day, a ceremony was held at the Battle Ground Community Center to honor service men and women, and that night veterans could be spotted at Battle Ground Elks Lodge and Mill Creek Pub having dinner on the house.
A day earlier, Mallard Landing, an assisted living home in Battle Ground, held a small ceremony at its facility for the 14 veterans living there.
A table was set up with photos of the veterans and some of the items they’d kept from their time in the service, adorned with red, white and blue. A brief history of their time in service was read and they were presented with a certificate of gratitude and thanked for their service.
The 14 veterans spanned decades. Four of them served during World War II.
“It feels great,” said Army veteran Norman Linn of having his residence honor him and his other service members.
Linn, a graduate of both Battle Ground High School and Clark College, told The Reflector after the ceremony that he learned what “heat was all about” from being stationed in Kansas early in his service. Overall, though, he was honored to have served and grateful to the small Battle Ground community at the time for helping him along. He said the experience matured him.
The few who spoke during the ceremony told their stories, but seemed to have little interest in addressing their own accolades.
When presented with his certificate, John Schumacher, a Navy veteran, quickly shifted the focus to the World War II veterans he now shared a residency with.
“I’m honored to sit among them,” he said.
Andrea Pineda, director of sales and marketing for Mallard Landing, who put the event together with activities coordinator Debby Taloff, said that even small things we take for granted, like sharing cake and drinking punch on Veterans Day, is only possible because of sacrifices they made.
“If not for them, we wouldn’t be who we are today — or have the freedoms we do,” she said.
Battle Ground Mayor Philip Johnson, a 25-year Army veteran himself, addressed his fellow former service members at the conclusion of the ceremony.
“On behalf of the citizens of Battle Ground, we appreciate your service and I am glad you’re residents with us,” he said.
Mayor Johnson also attended another ceremony the next day at the Battle Ground Community Center.
Johnson told The Reflector it was only a small gesture the city could offer for service members who “served and sacrificed a lot.”
