Celebration of Honor
Lincoln City is a town reliant on tourism. It’s fair to say the business community does its best to roll out the red carpet for visitors. Every autumn, though, only the most plush carpet will do, as the entire community reaches out to veterans and active-duty men and women in the nation’s armed forces.
Events during the annual Celebration of Honor, taking place Setp. 22 to 25, will be held city-wide by civic and charitable organizations, merchants associations, the Lincoln City Visitor and Convention Bureau, the Lincoln City Parks and Recreation Department and Chinook Winds Casino Resort. The events are designed to appeal to veterans and their families, and feature many activities for both children and adults.
Chinook Winds Casino Resort will again host the Veterans of Oregon “Field of Honor,” featuring 1,000 American flags on display on the resort grounds overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The CWCR will also host the American Veterans Traveling Tribute, featuring an 80-percent scale model of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington D. C., and the Cost of Freedom Tribute. Both will be on display from Sept. 22 to Sept. 25.
The Opening Ceremony, including a candlelight vigil, will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, with a Ride of Honor at the Wall, located in the Chinook Winds southeast parking lot, followed by the release of “Wish Lanterns” over the Pacific.
Presentation ceremonies of the Oregon Veterans Medal will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday at Chinook Winds Casino Resort. The Oregon Veterans Medal is a custom-designed, engraved medal signifying appreciation for the service and sacrifice of veterans who reside in the state of Oregon. To qualify for the medal, an application form must be completed in advance of the ceremony, with proof of military service attached. Forms will be available at Chinook Winds Casino Resort one week prior to the presentation. All ceremonies will be held near the AVTT Travelling Tribute Wall. Learn more about the Veterans of Oregon Honorable Service Medal at veteransoforegon.com.
Sending out an SOS
Saturday’s events begin with an SOS breakfast, which starts at 7 a.m., at Henry’s Lighthouse Donuts located in Lighthouse Square on the north end of Lincoln City. A plate is just $5, and proceeds go to the Oregon Coast Veterans. Proprietor and chef Henry Quandt makes donuts in the morning and local laws at night, as a member of the Lincoln City Council. Quandt is a veteran who managed mess halls of all sizes in Italy and other locations during the 1970s and 80s. His SOS isn’t a creative take on an old classic ... it’s Army regulation, using the official recipe veterans will remember from their own mess.
Walk or run it off the breakfast at 9 a.m., start time of the 5K Run/Walk for Honor sponsored by Chinook Winds. Registration for the run is available at chinookwindscasino.com, at Chinook Winds Fitness Center or on the day of the event on the Field of 1,000 Flags. Veterans and active duty personnel receive a free gift with registration and run free. Also that morning, author John Baker will be featured at a book signing for his book on the history of Camp Adair at the Lincoln City Cultural Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Even more events
At 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, The Bijou Theatre will present a free showing of “Good Morning, Vietnam,” sponsored by Chinook Winds Casino Resort. Afterwards, head to the south end of town for free admission to the North Lincoln County Museum’s presentation, “Redheads to War Dogs, World War II on the Oregon Coast,” beginning at 1 p.m.
The Lakeview Senior Living Center will be serving a free breakfast to veterans on Sunday morning from 7 to 10 a.m., with a donation accepted from non-veterans. The Veterans Memorial Rededication, followed by the Oregon Veteran’s Medal presentation, will take place at 2 p.m. near the AVTT’s Travelling Tribute at Chinook Winds. A reading of the names of Oregon military personnel killed in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq will follow. At the historic Delake School, now the Lincoln City Cultural Center, Ron Gorremans will have a display of military equipment and memorabilia from Wednesday, Sept. 21 to Tuesday, Sept. 27.
Stop by the D-River wayside for the red, white and blue kite display, followed by a stroll on the beach where red, white, and blue glass floats will be placed along the miles of sand by Lincoln City Visitor & Convention Bureau volunteers for guests of the community to discover as part of the “Finders Keepers” promotion. Youngsters can test the ocean breezes with free red, white, and blue kites – also offered by the LCVCB.
What’s a Lincoln City celebration without a little shopping? The Tanger Outlets will offer free coupon books upon presentation of a military I.D. They will be available at the Tanger business office.
The Pioneer Cemetery Association will be flying American flags in honor of the veterans buried Pioneer Cemetery, and members of the North Lincoln Lions Club will Lion – er, line – the streets of Lincoln City with American flags in honor of the event.
Throughout the Celebration of Honor, there will be fly-overs, displays of vintage and new military equipment, a motorcycle run honoring Gold Star Families, a motorcycle poker run, and many more events. For more info on these motorcycle events, contact Roundabouts For Veterans and Community at www.roundaboutsforVetsandCom.com.
Families, individuals, and organizations are welcome to place wreaths at the AVTT Travelling Tribute during the weekend. There will be a special area where they will be displayed.
Volunteers are needed to assist with assembling the wall and taking it down, and also with placing the flags at the field of flags and taking them down.
For more information, or to volunteer, contact Teresa Simmons at 541-996-5815 or via TeresaS@CWCResort.com, or check chinookwindscasino.com. Updated information can be found by contacting the Lincoln City Visitor & Convention Bureau, 800-452-2151, or at oregoncoast.org.
Events during the annual Celebration of Honor, taking place Setp. 22 to 25, will be held city-wide by civic and charitable organizations, merchants associations, the Lincoln City Visitor and Convention Bureau, the Lincoln City Parks and Recreation Department and Chinook Winds Casino Resort. The events are designed to appeal to veterans and their families, and feature many activities for both children and adults.
Chinook Winds Casino Resort will again host the Veterans of Oregon “Field of Honor,” featuring 1,000 American flags on display on the resort grounds overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The CWCR will also host the American Veterans Traveling Tribute, featuring an 80-percent scale model of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington D. C., and the Cost of Freedom Tribute. Both will be on display from Sept. 22 to Sept. 25.
The Opening Ceremony, including a candlelight vigil, will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, with a Ride of Honor at the Wall, located in the Chinook Winds southeast parking lot, followed by the release of “Wish Lanterns” over the Pacific.
Presentation ceremonies of the Oregon Veterans Medal will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday at Chinook Winds Casino Resort. The Oregon Veterans Medal is a custom-designed, engraved medal signifying appreciation for the service and sacrifice of veterans who reside in the state of Oregon. To qualify for the medal, an application form must be completed in advance of the ceremony, with proof of military service attached. Forms will be available at Chinook Winds Casino Resort one week prior to the presentation. All ceremonies will be held near the AVTT Travelling Tribute Wall. Learn more about the Veterans of Oregon Honorable Service Medal at veteransoforegon.com.
Sending out an SOS
Saturday’s events begin with an SOS breakfast, which starts at 7 a.m., at Henry’s Lighthouse Donuts located in Lighthouse Square on the north end of Lincoln City. A plate is just $5, and proceeds go to the Oregon Coast Veterans. Proprietor and chef Henry Quandt makes donuts in the morning and local laws at night, as a member of the Lincoln City Council. Quandt is a veteran who managed mess halls of all sizes in Italy and other locations during the 1970s and 80s. His SOS isn’t a creative take on an old classic ... it’s Army regulation, using the official recipe veterans will remember from their own mess.
Walk or run it off the breakfast at 9 a.m., start time of the 5K Run/Walk for Honor sponsored by Chinook Winds. Registration for the run is available at chinookwindscasino.com, at Chinook Winds Fitness Center or on the day of the event on the Field of 1,000 Flags. Veterans and active duty personnel receive a free gift with registration and run free. Also that morning, author John Baker will be featured at a book signing for his book on the history of Camp Adair at the Lincoln City Cultural Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Even more events
At 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, The Bijou Theatre will present a free showing of “Good Morning, Vietnam,” sponsored by Chinook Winds Casino Resort. Afterwards, head to the south end of town for free admission to the North Lincoln County Museum’s presentation, “Redheads to War Dogs, World War II on the Oregon Coast,” beginning at 1 p.m.
The Lakeview Senior Living Center will be serving a free breakfast to veterans on Sunday morning from 7 to 10 a.m., with a donation accepted from non-veterans. The Veterans Memorial Rededication, followed by the Oregon Veteran’s Medal presentation, will take place at 2 p.m. near the AVTT’s Travelling Tribute at Chinook Winds. A reading of the names of Oregon military personnel killed in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq will follow. At the historic Delake School, now the Lincoln City Cultural Center, Ron Gorremans will have a display of military equipment and memorabilia from Wednesday, Sept. 21 to Tuesday, Sept. 27.
Stop by the D-River wayside for the red, white and blue kite display, followed by a stroll on the beach where red, white, and blue glass floats will be placed along the miles of sand by Lincoln City Visitor & Convention Bureau volunteers for guests of the community to discover as part of the “Finders Keepers” promotion. Youngsters can test the ocean breezes with free red, white, and blue kites – also offered by the LCVCB.
What’s a Lincoln City celebration without a little shopping? The Tanger Outlets will offer free coupon books upon presentation of a military I.D. They will be available at the Tanger business office.
The Pioneer Cemetery Association will be flying American flags in honor of the veterans buried Pioneer Cemetery, and members of the North Lincoln Lions Club will Lion – er, line – the streets of Lincoln City with American flags in honor of the event.
Throughout the Celebration of Honor, there will be fly-overs, displays of vintage and new military equipment, a motorcycle run honoring Gold Star Families, a motorcycle poker run, and many more events. For more info on these motorcycle events, contact Roundabouts For Veterans and Community at www.roundaboutsforVetsandCom.com.
Families, individuals, and organizations are welcome to place wreaths at the AVTT Travelling Tribute during the weekend. There will be a special area where they will be displayed.
Volunteers are needed to assist with assembling the wall and taking it down, and also with placing the flags at the field of flags and taking them down.
For more information, or to volunteer, contact Teresa Simmons at 541-996-5815 or via TeresaS@CWCResort.com, or check chinookwindscasino.com. Updated information can be found by contacting the Lincoln City Visitor & Convention Bureau, 800-452-2151, or at oregoncoast.org.
