In their recent newsletter, VFW Post 3617 Commander Brad Pieratt shared a touching story from the Apple Blossom parade this year. Published here with permission.
Our normally festive Apple Blossom weekend was subject to inclement weather and other issues that saw fewer volunteers than expected to carry the banner of a Washington Fallen Hero. The Post was hosting Nicole and Scot, our Gold Star family from the Spokane Valley, as they traveled here with the new and compact version of the Fallen Heroes Memorial Float to partake in our festival. Friday’s Classy Chassis Parade was met with gusty winds, temps in the 50s, and rain right up to parade start time. But right before the parade started, the clouds parted and provided a little sunshine to our volunteers that braved the elements. In all, there were about 30 banners carried.
Saturday started off with better weather for the Apple Blossom Grand Parade and great expectations based on the feedback I was receiving from our volunteer organizations. The last time we hosted the banners in 2019, all 320+ banners were carried and we were expecting a similar turnout for this year. As you may recall, there was a security incident across the street from Memorial Park at 8:30am when a man started firing a pistol into the Living Hope Community Church. Due to the unknown scope and possibility of other threats, many of our expected banner volunteers were told to stay clear of the area which resulted in most of them deciding to stay home where it was safer. This was especially true of our younger sport teams and church groups. But we persevered with the group of people we had and were able to carry about 40 banners.
While we were waiting for the parade to start, I happened to notice a group across the park that had several Hispanic dancers dressed in brightly colored native costumes and wearing carved wooden masks practicing their routine. I was making my way over to get a better look when I noticed an older man in their group that was carrying a large American flagpole over his shoulder. He was also wearing a Vietnam Veteran’s cap. I changed my original purpose for walking over and made my way to the veteran. As I approached, I stuck out my hand to shake his just as he switched the flagpole to his left shoulder and he met me with a firm handshake. I introduced myself and thanked him for his military service in Vietnam and sacrifice. I wasn’t even sure that he spoke English, but I felt he understood what I was telling him. He acknowledged with a short nod and we parted ways.
About an hour later, just as we were lining up the walkers for the parade, I noticed he was looking in our direction from across the way, as if trying to understand what we were doing with all these banners. I’m not sure he could quite read them at that distance, and then before I knew it, he was walking towards our formation. At about 10 paces from our front line of Fallen Hero banners, he abruptly stopped, came to attention, and saluted smartly with the flag of our country held over his shoulder. I was struck by how sharp this older veteran looked, and the crispness of his salute while paying his respects. But it didn’t end with this simple, yet appropriate, military gesture. He held his salute for over 20 seconds, then 30 seconds. His eyes were searching the faces of the fallen on the banners before him, as if to find someone he knew. Even though these heroes were not yet born when he served his country, it looked like he was looking for a familiar face. Soon, his chin began to quiver as tears welled up in his eyes and began to fall down his cheeks, he was trying hard to focus on those young faces before him, faces all too familiar that he’d seen before, long ago. After what seemed an eternity, he dropped his salute and bowed his head and softly cried. Our group of volunteers were stunned in silence at this veteran’s very private gesture, some of them having tears in their eyes too. And then, he turned and slowly started walking back to his group. A daughter, granddaughter or maybe close friend had noticed what he was doing in front of our banners and was making her way to meet him. They met about midway between our two locations, she hugged him and held his head on her shoulder as they both cried. And then they disappeared into the crowd.
Now looking back at the entire festival over that weekend, one could be justified at the disappointment of the bad weather and dismal turnout of volunteers for various reasons. But probably the only thing I will remember from this time is the incredibly personal gesture from veteran of a different generation and culture paying his heartfelt respect to the most recent fallen heroes of Washington. It was a great festival to remember…..
