The Community Military Appreciation Committee (CMAC) will present Vancouver’s Memorial Day Observance Ceremony on Monday, May 30, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Bandstand on the historic Parade Ground at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
In conjunction with this event, the National Park Service at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site will host the popular Soldiers’ Bivouac living history encampment from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
“First established by the U.S. Army in 1849, there are few places in the Pacific Northwest with as rich of a military tradition as Vancouver Barracks,” said Acting Chief Ranger Bob Cromwell. “It is the honor of the National Park Service to host this annual event honoring our nation’s fallen military heroes, and specifically those from Clark County.”
This year’s keynote speaker for the event will be Lt. Colonel Brad Aiello, United States Marine Corps 6th Engineer Support Battalion. A graduate of the State University of New York at Albany, the Lt. Colonel was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1995. As part of the 24th MEU, Lt. Colonel Aiello deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in 1998, conducting both combat and humanitarian assistance operations during the Kosovo Campaign. He was promoted to Captain in June 1999 and posted to the Marine Corps Security Force Company protecting the Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific aboard Naval Submarine Base Bangor near Silverdale, Washington. Deployed to Kuwait in February 2003, Bravo Company was attached to the 5th Marines and participated in combat operations supporting all five maneuver battalions of Regimental Combat Team 5 during the invasion of Iraq. Aiello deployed in January 2009 to Baghdad, where he served as the Senior Advisor to the Director of Military Engineering, Iraqi Joint Headquarters, in the Iraq Ministry of Defense. He returned from overseas in June 2011, and was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps at the Pentagon as the Aviation Ground Support Requirements Officer and Marine Wing Support Squadron Advocate on the staff of the Deputy Commandant for Aviation.
He is currently serving as the site commander for the Marine Corps Reserve Training Center, Swan Island, Portland. A resident of Battle Ground, he hopes to make the Pacific Northwest his permanent home upon transitioning from active duty this summer.
Hot dogs and light lunch items will be available. Free public parking for the event will be at Hudson’s Bay High School, 1601 E. McLoughlin Blvd., and there will be free shuttle bus service between the high school parking lot and the event site.
CMAC is an all-inclusive group composed of members representing youth, education, civic, military, veterans groups, and local governments. CMAC executes and plans community-wide events, such as the Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, Our Community Salutes, and POW/MIA Day ceremonies, as well as recognition/support of our military families of all services.
