112 Bend veterans who lost their lives during combat, honored by Bend Heroes Foundation
Harley Coldiron
BEND, ORE. (KTVZ) — Bend’s first observance of Memorial Day began at 7AM, as the Bend Heroes Foundation and volunteers honored Bend’s 112 war dead with a moment of silence and by installing flags bearing veterans’ names at Bend Heroes Memorial in Brooks Park, along Veterans Memorial Bridge, and downtown Bend.
Boy Scout Troop 25 had the honor of leading the flag installations, with former Scoutmaster Kelly Reynolds and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Atticus Zmach leading the volunteers.
Proclamations issued by President Trump and Governor Kotek were read.
Foundation Chairman Dick Tobiason updated participants on the recently completed Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway across Oregon on the 477 mile US Hwy 30 between Astoria and the Oregon – Idaho border. That highway honors the families of about 6,000 wartime veterans from Oregon who made the ultimate sacrifice during war from WWI to the present, including Bend’s 112. The Gold Star highway on US Hwy 30 is the longest highway in Oregon and the 9th and final veterans highway across Oregon initiated by the Foundation. Photos of Gold Star Family members and highway signs will be shown.
Tobiason also discussed the National Medal of Honor Highway Act, created by Congress and President Biden last December at his request. That 3,365-mile highway across the USA on US Hwy 20 honors all 3,528 Medal of Honor recipients from all 50 states including 29 recipients connected with Oregon and had its origin in Oregon eight years ago.
The National Medal of Honor Highway is the longest highway in our nation. Tobiason kept his promise to WWII Medal of Honor recipient Bob Maxwell, a director of Bend Heroes Foundation, to honor our nation’s Medal of Honor recipients with the coast-to-coast highway. The original Act signed by Congress and President Biden and a highway map was displayed at 7:00 am.
Finally, a wreath was placed by Gold Star Families at the granite monument listing the 112 war dead names at Bend Heroes Memorial before 250 flags were installed.
The Foundation’s Bend Parade of Flags program began 20 years ago, with BSA Troop 25 as the first youth group to be involved.