Eight groups that support veterans were honored this month at a meeting of the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board for their participation in the “2013 The Unforgotten: Run to Tahoma.”
Board Chairman Mark Lowe said these groups made it possible for the event to happen. It is an annual motorcycle escort from the Kitsap County Coroner’s office to the Tahoma Cemetery where the remains of unclaimed veterans are given a proper burial.
“This year 400 motorcycles escorted the remains of 25 deceased veterans,” he said. “We took our brothers home the right way.”
Honored were: the American Legion Post 245, Combat Veterans International Chapter 11, Disabled American Veterans Chapters 5 and 22, Fleet Reserve Branch 29, Marine Corps League Detachment 531, the Suquamish Warriors, Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts 2669 and 4992 and the Vietnam Veterans/Legacy Veterans group.
Each received ribbons for the years that they participated and each ribbon was embroidered with their names and years of work. Some groups received up to four ribbons because the board hadn’t passed them out for four years, Lowe said.
One veteran, who goes by the name “Roofer” from the Vietnam Veterans Legacy Group, was given special recognition for hand making all the urns in which the remains are buried.
Combat Veterans International Chapter 11 spokesman “Mud” summed up the day:
“It was one Hell of a day,” he said. “We appreciate all of you for showing up.”
The groups plan to do the annual run again on Memorial Day weekend in May 2014.
In other work, the board heard a presentation by Washington State Sen. Christine Rolfs, (D-23rd) who updated the veterans on legislation she expects to see in the 2014 session.
State Sen. Nathan Schlicher (D-26th) also spoke.
Rolfs outlined a number of bills that had passed last session that helped veterans and said she she expects a bill that will allow waivers for in state tuition for active military serving elsewhere to pass this year.
The board asked her to push for a state drivers license that signifies that the holder is a veteran, citing that two other states have it.
Members said that would help to identify veterans at their time of death.