“Each year at [the Wenatchee] Apple Blossom [Festival], you may see an entry in the Grand Parade with an outpouring of community volunteers carrying banners with the face of a soldier, marine, sailor, airman, or guardian on them. These are the Washington State Fallen Heroes Banners – each one memorializes a post-9/11 service member from Washington state (and the PNW) who has fallen.

The Washington State Fallen Heroes Project started in 2007 when Spokane resident Kim Cole’s son, Marine Corporal Darrel Morris, was killed in Iraq. Wanting to be sure he would never be forgotten, she had a large banner made with his name and picture and took it to an event for surviving families. Other survivors loved the idea, and soon Kim was taking orders for banners for their Heroes too. As the support and orders grew, Kim began to reach out and bring some community partners on board.

In January of 2011, Kim attended the VFW Dept of WA Midwinter Conference in Spokane and gave a presentation about the project. [Post member] Brad Pieratt saw this presentation and was greatly moved by what he heard and saw. As quickly as he could, he invited Kim to bring the banners to Wenatchee for the annual Apple Blossom Festival so they could be carried in the Grand Parade.”

Read the full article on the VFW Post 3617 website.

These banners are not exclusively carried at the Wenatchee Apple Blossom Festival – they travel all over the PNW throughout the year. In some cases, local establishments will hang banners of their local heroes up for a month at a time. Other festivals and events also offer the Fallen Heroes Project to come visit. You can keep up with all of their events, travel plans, and scheduled appearances on their Facebook page.