Fallen service members honored at fort on Memorial Day

The colors of so many wind-whipped flags came to life under a brilliant blue sky as the early sun warmed the grass Monday morning. Hundreds had gathered around the Fort Vancouver bandstand in remembrance of the hundreds of thousands who could not be there. “Let us always remember that Memorial Day is about coming together to pay homage to those who gave their all for the freedom of our great nation,” said Larry J. Smith, a retired combat veteran and co-chair of the Community Military Appreciation Committee, as he started the day’s observance at 11 a.m. “It is also a time to thank the gold star families for their loved ones’ sacrifices and tell them we will never forget.” The ceremony saw a mix of solemn and celebratory remarks, with speakers thanking those who gave their lives for their country and asking those in attendance to do more for those who must face the horrors of war. “After this weekend, when all the flags come down, we must ask what more we can do,” Vancouver City Councilor Anne McEnerny-Ogle said. This story will be updated.