Mayor's Corner - Celebrating our Veterans

In Sherwood, when Veterans Day rolls around, we don't just mark it on the calendar; we come together to mark it with heart, tradition, and song. This year, the Sherwood Center for the Arts was abuzz with neighbors and friends, all gathered to honor our na-tion's defenders. It was an uplifting day that reminded us that our veterans are the folks we grocery shop with, chat with over the fence, and wave to on our morning jog.

The warmth of community was tangible as we mixed and mingled, sharing stories of service and sacrifice. The Mixolydians, our local high school acapella group, filled the hall with the anthems of the armed forces. As each song rang out, veterans from the re-spective branches stood, and we all got to say 'thank you' with our applause and cheers. It was a simple but profound act of recognition for the people who've stood guard over our freedom.

Sig Unander's keynote speech about the Red Tail Squadron brought history right to our doorstep. His talk went beyond the textbooks, touching on the courage of the all-Black fighter squadron that fought with distinction in World War II. These pilots soared above racism and adversity to protect bombers on their missions into the heart of Nazi Germany, becoming the escort of choice by bomber squadrons and a symbol of hero-ism. The Red Tails' success was real, the missions where they escorted bombers lost 50% fewer bomber crews than all other fighter squadrons combined. Their story isn't just about overcoming odds; it's about setting new standards for bravery and excel-lence.

The discipline and reverence shown by Argonne Post 56 were something to behold. They're the keepers of tradition, Posting the colors, leading us in the Pledge of Alle-giance, and retiring the colors at the end of the event. Their precision speaks to their deep, deep respect for our nation and its values.

As your Mayor and as someone who has served, I feel a personal connection to this day. In my remarks, I tried to express that blend of pride and humility that comes with service. And it's not just about looking back—it's about looking around at the young people, like my niece, a Master Sargent in the US Space Force, who are taking up the mantle and safeguarding our future.

Our gathering was proof of Sherwood's heartbeat, a unified rhythm of pride and grati-tude. The event was more than just a series of presentations; it was a reaffirmation of our small-town values and our big-hearted support for those in uniform.

It was an amazing experience where we got the chance to share stories of our service with old and new acquaintances. Our country has a rich history of heroic actions- from the Revolutionary War to recent events- that are deeply etched in our collective family histories. Every year, one of my favorite parts of this event is get-ting to share and exchange these stories with each other.

I want to thank every person who took the time to join us in honoring our veterans and the city staff who coordinated and organized the event. Your presence was a powerful statement of patriotism and community. Let's hold onto that spirit, cher-ish it, and live it out, ensuring that the respect we show our veterans is woven into the fabric of our daily lives. Here's to making every day a tribute to those who have sacrificed for our country.

I want to encourage everyone to go down to the war memorial at Memorial Park. It's a serene spot that's seen more visitors since its recent update and makeover

- a place where you can get lost in thought, honor a loved one, or sit in gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy

because of those who've served. You should also consider honoring veterans in your family by having a custom brick added to the pavers at Memorial Park celebrating their service. For more information please visit sherwoodoregon.gov/BrickProgram.

This article was also featured in the Sherwood Archer newsletter published by the city of Sherwood. Click here to go to the Sherwood Archer website.