By Traci Chapman
Contributing Writer
Yukon on Saturday, Oct. 11 began its month-long salute of veterans and first responders with a Hometown Heroes reception held at the city’s veterans’ museum.
The reception was part of Yukon Salutes, a display of banners placed along Main Street honoring 34 veterans and 10 first responders during a month-long commemoration of Veteran’s Day.
Guest speaker Luke Holland, chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, praised the city’s work to honor veterans for a full month, rather than a single day in November. He recalled during his remarks his grandfather, who served in the Pacific in World War II.
“I was very young when he died, but I remember my times with him – and I honor what he helped to give all of us, the peace and prosperity this country afforded him to have, how he left a better future for my parents and me than he had found,” Holland said.
RIBBON CUTTING
Yukon Salutes began last year, Yukon Main Street director Vicki Davis said. This year’s effort represents eight decades of service, including 12 World War II veterans and two women, Vice-Mayor Rick Cacini said.
Cacini (the Yukon Veterans Museum founder and curator) and Davis joined with Mayor Shelli Selby to spearhead the Yukon Salutes effort that also included a city proclamation and ribbon cutting.
Officials cited veterans’ service, their “honor and valor” and “dedication and commitment to the cause of our freedom.”
“(W)e pledge our continued defense of our nation so that their sacrifice will stand before the entire world as a tribute to the spirit and determination of a people dedicated to the principles of freedom and democracy,” stated the proclamation signed by Selby – who read it during the Saturday morning event.
For more information about the Yukon Salutes banner program, call the Yukon Main Street office at 405-350-5999.
