Junction City continued tradition Monday with the Sundown Salute Parade. In addition to the cars, motorcycles and bands there was a strong military flavor as well, with troops marching and the Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard.
( Photos courtesy of Phyllis Fitzgerald )
Top award entries in the parade included the Cavalry Baptist Church, first place, Girl Scouts, second place and the Junction City Animal Shelter, third place.
( Photos courtesy of Kari Crump )
Following the parade the Veterans Ceremony was held in Heritage Park in front of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Master of Ceremonies, Tricia Verschage, said after five years in Vietnam the Division was ordered home on Dec. 14,1970. The Division sustained 20, 770 casualties and won 11 Congressional Medals of Honor, 67 Distinguished Service Crosses and 905 Silver Stars.
Brig. Gen. Niave Knell referred to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial where there are 753 names of those who lost their lives, noting they all had their own story. "Many raised their hands to join siblings in war zones while some sought a path to a better life and some felt the call of duty. "While there are 753 stories associated with the names on the Memorial, Knell noted there was one outcome...service.
Knell said it was service to an idea written in the Declaration of Independence by the Founding Fathers over 246 years ago "and protected by all the veterans of this nation ever since. The idea that all men are created equal. They are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among them are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
