FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2023
Commissioners Issue Proclamation in Honor of Veterans and Military Families Month
(Douglas County, Oregon) – The Douglas County Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation today, Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at the Weekly Business Meeting calling upon all citizens of Douglas County to celebrate and honor Veterans and Military Families Month. The proclamation also recognized and invited residents to honor all veterans on Veterans Day and attend the 68th Annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade. The proclamation was presented by Commissioner Boice, on behalf of the Board and acknowledged that, “throughout our history, courageous men and women have donned the uniform of the United States Armed Forces and built a noble tradition of faithful and dedicated service to our Nation, thus we know that the freedoms we enjoy as Americans have been purchased and protected at an incredibly high price.” A copy of the video presentation can be found on the Douglas County Government Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountyeGovernment.
“It is always a great day when we get to recognize our veteran community. For several years we have set aside a day to honor Veterans Day and the annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade. This year we wanted to proclaim and celebrate the entire month of November in honor of our Veterans, as well as pay tribute to Military Families for the immense sacrifice they make while their loved ones proudly serve in our U.S. Armed Forces.” - Board Chair, Commissioner Tom Kress.
Commissioner Tim Freeman presented proclamation certificates to U.S. Military Veterans, Veteran Service and Support Groups, and Military Family Members: Representative Christine Goodwin, Dan Loomis (US Army), Carol Hunt, Eric Bagwell (USAF), John Pierson (USAF), Jim Barnett (USMC), Robert VanNorman (US Army), Jim Little (US Navy), Tammy Turner (USAF), Rick Sciapiti (US Army), Jack Flowers (US Army), Bill Mixon (US Army), Linda Moreau (Gold Star Family), Tom Davis (Vietnam Veteran), Roger Boucock (US Army), Bill Duncan (US Army), Bob (US Army) and Cherrie Miller, Traci Palmer (Roseburg VA), Nikol Hansen (Roseburg VA), Patrick Hull (US Army Reserves, Roseburg VA), Dave West (US Army), Michael Kurtz (US Army) and Neil Hummel (USMC). Veteran service groups and supporters represented were Douglas County Veterans Forum, Douglas County Veterans Advisory Committee, Douglas County Veterans Day Parade Committee, Vietnam Veterans of America – Chapter 805 & Auxiliary, American Legion Post 16 & 123 & Auxiliary, Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 2468, Roseburg VA, Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and Wings of Love.
“What a wonderful day this is! I always look forward to November. I did not realize in all these years that it’s not just National Veterans Day, but we discovered to our pleasure that it is also National Veterans Month. It is wonderful to have all of my wonderful veteran brothers and sisters at my back. I have appeared before you good gentlemen many times and I don’t have the opportunity to wear my black hat very often. At one point I saluted you and gave you thanks for recognizing and honoring our community’s veterans and making sure they are recognized, as well as overseeing our war memorial. I can’t thank you enough. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I also take my hat off to you, thank you. May God bless Douglas County and may God bless the United States of America,” – US Navy retired veteran, Jim Little.
The 68th Annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade is scheduled to take place in downtown Roseburg on Saturday, November 11, 2023, beginning at 11:00 am. The Douglas County Veterans Day Parade has a long-standing tradition of honoring our veterans on the Veterans Day Holiday and has been held in Roseburg every single year since 1955. The worthy and steadfast tradition has a well-earned title as “Oregon’s Greatest Veterans Day Parade.” This year the Grand Marshals for the Douglas County Veterans Day parade will be National Guardsmen, as well as Gold Star Families.
“I want to thank you for your steadfast support of our local veterans and for the expanded proclamation that recognizes Veterans and Military Families month. Our local veterans and their families have been there for us, and it is fitting to honor their sacrifice and their dedication to always be there for them. In their example we see the very best of our country’s spirit. During this Veteran and Military Families month may we remember and honor their tremendous devotion to duty and their unyielding sacrifice.” - 2023 Douglas County Veterans Day Parade Committee Chair, Douglas County Clerk and US Army retired veteran, Dan Loomis.
The 68th Annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade will follow the traditional route through downtown Roseburg starting on the corner of NE Fowler Street and NE Diamond Lake Blvd, turning left onto NE Jackson Street, which becomes SE Jackson Street, turning left onto SE Lane Street, left onto SE Main Street, right onto SE Douglas Avenue and concluding in front of the Douglas County Courthouse. We encourage citizens to make sure they fill ALL spaces along the entire parade route (both sides of the street and sidewalks) to make sure that our participating veterans receive ample accolades for their dedicated service to our county as they move along the parade route. Douglas County Veterans Day Parade applications can be downloaded from the county website at https://douglascountyor.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4400/Veterans-Day-Parade-2023-Application-PDF or picked up in the Douglas County Veterans Service Office (VSO) at the Douglas County Courthouse located at 1036 SE Douglas Avenue in Roseburg. Applications can be returned to the VSO or the Douglas County Clerk’s Office. The parade application deadline is Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
Additionally, in conjunction with the 68th Annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade Committee, the Commissioners were very pleased to announce that the 68th Annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade will be nationally recognized once again this year, as one of only 66 regional Veterans Day sites selected as the top 2023 Veterans Day observances across the United States, by the National Veterans Day Committee.
“My fellow Commissioners and I would like to express our genuine gratitude to all veterans and their families for their dedicated service and sacrifice they gave to this great nation. We also want to extend our sincere appreciation to the members of the Douglas County Veterans Day Parade committee and to all the parade participants for their continued dedication to our cherished annual parade honoring our veterans!” - Commissioner Tim Freeman.
Please join us in honoring our veterans today and every day, but especially during the month of November, on Veterans Day and at the 68th Annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade in downtown Roseburg, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. For more information about the parade click on the link here: https://or-douglascounty.civicplus.com/507/Veterans-Day-Parade-Committee.
The proclamation presented is a reminder and encouragement for our citizens to honor our veterans and rededicate themselves to the preservation of our liberties under the Constitution of the United States.
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Media Contact: Tamara Howell, Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist,
Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov
Proclamation Attached. Photos © K.Trenkle/Douglas County. Individual photos available upon request.
