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State honors veterans with ceremony at the Capitol

The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs held a Veterans Day ceremony across the street from the Capitol.
Chris Lehman
/
KLCC
The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs held a Veterans Day ceremony across the street from the Capitol.

After taking a year off due to the pandemic, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs held a Veterans Day celebration in Salem Wednesday.

More than 100 people gathered across the street from the Oregon Capitol. Vietnam veteran Michael Whalen sang the national anthem and the Grande Ronde Color Guard posted the colors.

Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs director Kelly Fitzpatrick, herself a retired Army officer, thanked all veterans for their service.

“Let us resolve never to stop trying to build that better world for which all of our veterans have sacrificed," she said. "Let us all draw strength from their long legacy of service.”

After the ceremony, attendees were given the chance to tour the site of a proposed Vietnam War Memorialon the Capitol grounds.

Speakers at the ceremony includes U.S. Rep. Kurt Schader, D-Canby, as well as two Oregon state lawmakers: Sen. James Manning, D-Eugene and Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth. Both Manning and Evans are veterans.

Chris Lehman has been reporting on Oregon issues since 2006. He joined the KLCC news department in December 2018 and became News Director in March 2023. Chris was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism. His public broadcasting career includes stops in Louisiana and Illinois. Chris has filed for national programs including “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”
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