An honor guard salutes veterans Monday during a Memorial Day observance at the West Valley Veterans' Memorial on the grounds of the Grand Ronde Tribe.

Paul Daquilante
NewsRegister.com

GRAND RONDE - U.S. Army veteran Marce Norwest, an elder in the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, reminded the audience at Monday's Memorial Day observance that you don't have to be a veteran to celebrate this day.

"You just need to be an American," he said.

The event took place at the West Valley Veterans' Memorial, located on tribal grounds. Elder, Marine veteran and Tribal Council member Steve Bobb Sr., who created the memorial, read the names of 37 veterans whose names have been added to the four black granite pillars representing the major service branches - the Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy.

The memorial, dedicated in 2003, features a bronze statue of a Native American man and woman dressed in traditional regalia and standing side-by-side, reaching toward the sky.

Veterans' names are inscribed on each of the pillars. A feather before a name indicates that the veteran is a tribal member.

The statue and pillars are enclosed within a cement walkway and observation area. There is room for many people to view the statue and pillars.

There is a railing around the walkway and observation area, and attached to the rail are markers that identify the conflicts in which the veterans served, dating back to World War II.

There are several flagpoles, representing the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, prisoners of war, Grand Ronde Tribe, State of Oregon and United States.

"Veterans share a bond," Bobb said following the observance. "All veterans do, for the rest of their lives. Sacrifices and efforts were made to make this the greatest country in the world. There's overwhelming pride among veterans."

Bobb continued, "We all feel the same. We're tied together as a brotherhood. And people keep stepping up to defend this country against those who would try to bring harm against its people and our way of life."

There are only two requirements for listing - some tie to the West Valley communities of Grand Ronde, Sheridan and Willamina and a general, honorable or medical discharge.

A five-member Veterans Special Events Board reviews an individual's DD214 discharge form to determine eligibility. The form is a Department of Defense document, issued upon a military service member's retirement, separation or discharge from active duty.

Oregon Memorial of Hillsboro handles the engraving of new names on the pillars. This year's work was completed last week, just in time for Monday's event.

"This day celebrates the sacrifices that have been made so we can live in freedom and liberty," said Tribal Council Chair Kathryn Harrison. "We want this nation to remain free and strong. We can't thank the veterans enough for what they have done."

U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, was a guest of the tribe at the event. He urged attendees to take time and reflect on how good it feels to live in a free nation.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley had to decline an invitation to attend, so Katie Gauthier, his field representative for Lincoln, Marion, Polk, Tillamook and Yamhill counties, appeared on his behalf.

"We owe a debt to our veterans that we can never repay," she quoted Merkley in prepared remarks. "One hundred ten Oregonians have died in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our veterans deserve our highest and best treatment."

Jeff Biglin, a custodian at Dayton High School, sang the "Star Spangled Banner" and "God Bless the U.S.A." Lee Greenwood, a one-time Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year, sang the latter at the memorial's dedication in 2003.