2022 Veterans March held on the Fourth of July

The 2022 Veterans March took place on Monday, July 4.
 A healthy crowd showed for the event, which is sponsored by the Weiser Chamber of Commerce. The march began at Weiser’s historic train depot and proceeded north on State Street to Veterans Memorial Park on the corner of State and Park streets.
 A color guard consisting of military veterans led the march. Hunter Mizar, of the Weiser Church of the Nazarene, opened the ceremony at the park with a prayer. Bailey Chandler sang the National Anthem, followed by a short talk about the American flag by Weiser Elks Lodge member Richard Coronado.
 “Our flag is more than just a piece of cloth … our flag is a symbol that stands for our nation’s basic ideas and purposes,” he said, addressing the crowd. “Our flag represents the union of 50 states and millions of people joined into one great country. Our flag stands for our people, millions of Americans who have worked and fought to preserve our freedom and our way of life.”
 Brothers Randy and Dick Bergquist, both born and raised in Weiser, said that now more than ever we must remember what has been accomplished by others in the past, so that we can enjoy what we have today and in the future.
 “I think sometimes we don’t appreciate all the sacrifices made to get us here,” said Randy, who served in the U.S. Air Force and the Air Force Reserves, for a total of 20 years of service. “We live on the shoulders of giants that came before us and I just don’t think we have any idea of the sacrifices that were made before, and we need to recognize that.”
 Dick, who served his 20 years in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserves, said he always felt it was his duty to serve his country.
 “You know, World War II, they were the greatest generation and they sacrificed so much more than I ever had to sacrifice,” he said. “I don’t consider that I did a real big sacrifice. I actually felt that it was a privilege to serve my country. I felt an obligation.”
 Randy and Dick’s mother, Lucille, attended Monday’s march and was clearly proud of her sons.
 “These are my two oldest sons and I have another son that spent 20 years in the Navy,” she said. “My husband, Leon, was in World War II.”
 Leon, was a local business owner, served in England during the war.
 The Weiser Chamber of Commerce’s Alex Chavarria tipped his hat to Veterans March founders Jim Grunke and former Weiser Mayor John Walker.
 He added that he would like to see the event grow next year.
 “We have made the decision that we would like to make it something a little bit more,” he said, addressing the crowd. “We are going to invite the rodeo (Weiser Valley Round Up) to be part of this because their event starts in a couple days. We are going to invite you to bring in patriotic floats. We are going to have a bicycle parade; we are going to bring in as much as we can for our little town’s Fourth of July, Independence Day Celebration. Thank you to everyone who has made this and carried it on their shoulders; let’s make it bigger, let’s make it wonderful.”
 

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
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FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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