Written By: Kevin Smith-Fagan
The hall was awash in red, white and blue for the club’s annual celebration of Armed Forces Day, as we honored the many club members and relatives who have served the country in uniform.
To open the occasion, the U.S. Naval Color Guard presented the flag, and President John Lemmon (Knox, Lemmon & Anapolsky) led the assembly in the pledge of allegiance. The Club’s singing quartet, the Four-Way Test, commanded the room with its performance of the national anthem.
A contingent from Luther Burbank High School’s ROTC program wowed the crowd with precision rifle drill maneuvers.
Each of the five branches was celebrated in song and its representatives in the room were introduced. Frank Cook (Cook Realty) presented a short overview of the Army’s proud history. Ron Crane (DCA Partners) highlighted the Navy’s greatness, Jackie Kirkwood (Goodwin Cole) extolled the valor of the Marines, Bruce Hester (Colliers International) bragged about the Air Force and Jim Craig hailed the Coast Guard.
Steve Huffman and Past President Thom Gilbert highlighted some Blue Star families in the club - Dennis Cook’s (Cook Brown) two sons and nephew in the service; Jim Streng’s grandson; and the sons of Norm Marshall (Headwaters Construction Inc.), Past President Walter Dahl (Dahl Law), and Past President Susan Sheridan.
The Club also remembered loved ones who served, honoring the dads of Sylvia Fitzgerald (Art Appraisals and Estate Services), Steve Shiflett and President Elect Diane Woodruff; the uncles of Denny Evans and Steve Huffman; and Ron Crane’s grandfather, father, brother and son.
President John saluted:
- Armed Forces Day chair Past President Thom Gilbert and Steve Huffman
- wine reception sponsor Kathe Nathan (The Merchants National Bank)
- piano player Mike Bullington (Northwestern Mutual Financial Network)
- greeters Jim Mattesich (Greenberg Traurig) and Todd Andrews (Andrews Construction)
- Four-Way Test singers Dick Osen, John McIntyre (Dignity Health), Blair Reynolds (guest) and Kevin Smith-Fagan (KVIE Public Television)
- Joe Grant (Vantage Points) for his opening Thought of the Day.
Next week’s speaker will be security expert Hector Alvarez, who will talk about violence prevention in the workplace.
As always, thanks to John Swentowsky (Swentowsky Photography) for photos of the meeting.