On Sunday afternoon, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) received the distinguished Blue Star Memorial Marker, a memorial plaque honoring the men and women who are and have served in the Armed Forces.     

Training & Safety Staff Captain Kyle Wochnick thanks the Portland District Garden Club & Blue Star Memorial Committee

The marker wasunveiled at a dedication ceremony at PF&R’s Training & Safety Facility hosted by the Portland District Garden Clubs. Portland District Director Jennifer Nash and PF&R’s Training Staff Captain Kyle Wochnick conducted the ceremony with PF&R’s Honor Guard while the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. President Garnet Ascher, dedicated the marker.

1st Vice President of the National Garden Clubs, Inc. welcomes guests

Past Portland District Director, Nancy Ebsen, accepted the marker on behalf of Portland District and Pastor Peter Warner led a touching and heartfelt invocation.

Pastor Pete Warner with the Fresh Faith Community Church offers the Benediction

The memorial marker bears the words, “A Tribute to the Armed Forces that have defended the United States of America”.  An additional memorial plaque honoring those affected by 9/11 was placed in PF&R’s Blue Star Memorial Reflection Garden.

The Blue Star tradition began during World War II, when families hung a small banner with a blue star in their windows to honor family members serving the country. In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted the Blue Star Memorial Program, which established dedication sites in parks and at historic locations and initiated a highway system of thousands of miles, along which large metal markers with the Blue Star were placed.

 Portland Fire & Rescue

 We Respond: Always Ready, Always There

 September 13, 2011

 

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