Veterans, Realtors, and Community Honor American Flag

National Flag Day
A large flag was raised between local ladder fire trucks at Wednesday's event. Photo courtesy: Thurston County REALTORS Association
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Submitted by Thurston County REALTORS Association

Thurston County REALTORS® Association (TCRA) and the Thurston County Veterans Council (TCVC) co-sponsored a community ceremony on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 in commemoration of National Flag Day. For more than 20 years, the ceremony has been an annual event held at the Lacey Civic Plaza in Lacey, Wash. This year, the estimated 100 attendees included Veterans, Thurston County commissioners, city mayors, VFW and American Legion groups, county and city law enforcement and fire personnel, Realtors® and the public.

National Flag Day
Rep. Barkis welcomed the crowd and expressed his respect for the flag. Photo courtesy: Thurston County REALTORS Association

Speakers for the event were Washington State Rep. Andrew Barkis (District 2) and TCRA President Rae Anne Toth. Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder also spoke to recognize the new display of military service flags at the Plaza. The Master of Ceremonies was John Bradburn, Washington State Senior Vice Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

The ceremony began just after a huge American flag was unfurled between two fire trucks, one from Lacey District 3 and one from the Olympia Fire Department. A cannon salute was fired by the Cannoneers of the American Legion Post 100. After an invocation by retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Gary Walker, the crowd put their hands over their hearts to pledge allegiance to the nation’s flag. Then, Rep. Andrew Barkis welcomed the large crowd gathered.

“As we look at all these flags today flying against a peaceful blue sky, none is more beautiful than the flag of the United States, and I think of those who have fought and died for our freedom,” said Rep. Barkis, also a long-time member of the Sunrise Lions Club, who, along with his sons’ Boy Scout troop, helps the Lions Club put up the American flags that line local streets on holidays. “I feel honored to be your state representative and to be an American. And today, I thank the REALTORS® and the Veterans Council for the opportunity to honor our nation’s flag.”

Following Rep. Barkis, a rifle salute by the VFW Post 318 Honor Guard pierced the late afternoon air. Then, Thurston County REALTORS® President Rae Anne Toth delivered a moving speech—a composite of the many touching responses to the question she posed on social media, “What does the flag mean to you?”—that brought many in the crowd to tears.

National Flag Day
Thurston County Realtor President Rae Anne Toth delivered an inspiring speech to the guests. Photo courtesy: Thurston County REALTORS Association

“A wife and mother that lost her husband answered, ‘I cry every time I see Old Glory pass by in a parade or at an event. I have respect and pride in the flag. I had pride when the service men and women folded the flag at my husband’s funeral and presented it to me. There are so many women who have these ‘Triangles of Memories’…’

Rae Anne further reflected on the woman’s response in the close of her presentation.

“Those ‘Triangles of Memories’ as she put it, ‘Our Flag’ are some of their most prized possessions… and because of the sacrifices that have been made—for all our fallen comrades, for the wives and husbands that no longer have their spouses, for the mothers and fathers that no longer have their children, for the brothers and sisters that no longer have siblings, for the children that no longer have their parents—because of that, the Flag deserves our utmost honor and respect.”

Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder then paid tribute to the display of military services banners recently installed at the Plaza by the Sunrise Lions Club.

National Flag Day
Realtor Kathy Thompson attended the event with her father Bill Greenwood, a US Marine Corps Vet who served in WW II and the Korean War. Photo courtesy: Thurston County REALTORS Association

“Lacey is widely-recognized as a patriotic and welcoming community due in large part to the passion and dedication of the Sunrise Lions,” said Mayor Ryder. “On behalf of the entire Lacey City Council, the citizens of Lacey, and, in particular, the outstanding members of our military and Veteran populations, please accept our sincere thanks and congratulations on your latest—and very fitting—project”.

This year’s Flag Day ceremony closed with the crowd becoming reverently silent during a flawless rendition of taps by a member of VFW 318, followed by a benediction.

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