Rosalia celebrates service members

ROSALIA - The Rosalia Veterans Park hosted its annual Veterans Day Program on Saturday, November 11, at 11 a.m. in the Veterans Memorial Park behind the Texaco Station Visitor Center on Whitman Avenue.

The welcome was made by volunteer coordinator Lee Hames, opening by saying good morning and welcoming everyone in attendance.

Hames thanked Pat Voge for her time taking care of everything that went into keeping the park in top condition. "She wanted to step down and asked if Sherry and I would take over the duties, and since it was my dad, Kenny, that had the idea of making this park here in Rosalia to honor the Veterans that served our country, we accepted," he said.

Hames thanked Laura Lautenslager for mowing the park this summer, noting that she did a wonderful job.

The program started with Pastor Mike Hill from the Rosalia Community Church, who gave the invocation. "He is a veteran himself," Hames said.

The local scout troop #588, with scout leader Justin Fuchs, led by Senior Thomas Place, performed the Flag Ceremony, and the Rifle team from A&T Mattausch Post 11327 in Cheney and Spokane consisted of team members Richard Mattausch, John Loehne, and Dan Hillman.

Taps was played by Bruce Henning, Charley Henning, Jordan Henning, and Jacob Goyke.

The scouts led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the Program guest speaker, Tony Blount, a Purple Heart recipient who served in Vietnam with Delta Company USMC.

Mr. Hames's wife, Sherry Hames, said the event was windy and, at times, hard to hear, "It was nice to see the people who did come out," she said.