At the intersection of Garfield Street and Carmichael Drive in Kennewick on a recent warm Saturday morning, a modest crowd gathered. About 150 people, including veterans, elected leaders, business owners, youth and citizens fixed their eyes on a podium waiting to hear words about honor. 

The American flag was majestically walked in by the Kennewick VFW Post 5785 Honor Guard, and in a moment of unity every face turned toward the flag. 

At exactly 10 a.m. Sept. 13, the assembly recited the Pledge of Allegiance in unison. 

During the flag ceremony, the Honor Guard offered the 21-gun salute, Vickie Evans played the bugle, and a fallen veteran’s family was shown deep respect for their loss that seems to be frozen in time.

The gathering marked the dedication of the Gerald Carmichael Memorial, newly upgraded and rededicated to honor the life and sacrifice of Kennewick’s first local to fall in the Vietnam War. 

In 1969, a pyramid-shaped monument was placed in his memory. The community recently breathed new life into it, weaving together the past and present in a solemn tribute to courage, duty and remembrance.

Marine Cpl. Gerald F. Carmichael was 18 years old when he gave his life in service to his country. He went to Vietnam in March 1966 and was killed while on patrol Oct. 15, 1966. Only a few years prior, he walked the halls of Kennewick High School, sharing classes with friends and neighbors. 

His death overseas left a void in his family, the city and all who believe in the cost of freedom. 

As one community member and Marine, Kevin Veleke, put it, “Cpl. Gerald Carmichael’s sacrifice in service to our country is well deserving of the reconstruction work and the dedication ceremony.” 

The gathering was both respectful and purposeful. It called us to remember not only the individuals who have borne the greatest cost, but also the families, communities and nation tied to their sacrifice. 

A ceremony honors Marine Cpl. Gerald F. Carmichael, 18, who was the first from Kennewick to die in the Vietnam War on Oct. 15, 1966. A reconstructed memorial was dedicated Sept. 13 at Garfield Street and Carmichael Drive in Kennewick.

| Courtesy Columbia Basin Veterans Center

That moment reminds us that Veterans Day, observed each year on Nov. 11, is more than a date. It is a lens through which we see the debt of gratitude we owe.

Originally called Armistice Day because World War I officially ended at 11 a.m. Nov. 11, the holiday was expanded in 1954 to honor all veterans of all wars. Over time, it came to symbolize our collective recognition of those who have shouldered the burden of our national defense. But such a day is only as meaningful as our understanding of what service truly costs.

So how do we incorporate that appreciation into our daily lives? For me and my family, it means embodying the principles those service members protected. It means pausing, even in our busy lives, to offer a silent prayer when the news shows troops in far-off lands. It means stepping forward to say thank you and to engage a veteran in conversation, to let them know they are both honored and seen. It means teaching younger generations, our children and grandchildren, the stories of people like Carmichael so they understand how freedom is not free. It also means keeping the larger picture in mind. Even today, there are over 170,000 active duty U.S. military personnel stationed overseas in more than 80 countries. 

These are not distant abstract numbers; each is a flesh and blood person, far from home, performing a duty so that others may live more securely and freely.

Back at Carmichael Drive, the crowd’s salute and the pledge echoed far beyond the Columbia Basin. It affirmed a simple truth: We do not just remember sacrifice; we recommit to the cause for which that sacrifice was made. We affirm that the values of liberty, dignity and responsibility are worth preserving. We remind ourselves that gratitude is not passive. It asks us to stand, to listen, to act.

May every citizen, veteran or not, take a moment of pause to smile and appreciate the blessings found in these United States. If you see a veteran, give a handshake, share a moment and honor those men and women who said yes to their call of duty.

At the Columbia Basin Veterans Center, we have teamed up with the American Legion, VFW, Benton Franklin Transit, local chambers of commerce, and many businesses and neighbors to make this November a month to honor our veterans. 

One easy practical way is to place a yard sign in your yard or business. Please let us know if you would like one by calling 509-545-6558, and we will do our best to link arms with you to say thank you in unison to our veterans in this community.

Kristopher Dahir is the executive director of the Columbia Basin Veterans Center, 1020 S. Seventh Ave., Pasco. Go to: Columbiabasinvetcenter.org.