BRINNON — The town turned out for the Loyalty Day parade Friday.
“This is very exciting to us,” said Brinnon resident Dalila Dowd, an organizer of the annual parade in the town of about 800 people. “We are patriotic here, and our town comes together for a special purpose.”
That purpose is to honor veterans, with many of those present serving in past wars.
“Every day in our lives the bravest men and women faithfully serve our nation,” said a speech written by eighth grader Julia Hansen, the Loyalty Days Queen, and delivered by Kathi Mueller during a short ceremony after the parade.
“Freedom will never be free. There will always be people giving up our lives for others, and every day is the right day to honor our military heroes.
“Other ways to honor them can be as simple as letting them go ahead in a line at a restaurant or when pumping gas,” Hansen wrote.
Several Jefferson County officials made the trip, including all three county commissioners, the sheriff, auditor, treasurer, assessor and clerk.
‘Favorite parade’
“This is my favorite parade,” said county Clerk Ruth Gordon. “It brings pride in the military to a personal level, and is a beautiful expression of that support.”
Sheriff Tony Hernandez said the people in the parade were “true blue” in their patriotism.
The parade was sponsored by the Brinnon VFW and the Ladies’ Auxiliary.
VFW chief John Dowd outlined the history of Loyalty Day, saying it was created by the VFW in 1921 and ratified in 1958 by congress “as a permanent fixture on our nation’s calendar.”
Even so, the commemoration is ignored by many.
Brinnon, however, is the exception.
“I don’t know of any other town that still recognizes Loyalty Day,” Delila Dowd said. “The whole town comes out for this.”
After the parade, the public was invited to the Brinnon Booster Club for refreshments.
“They say there is no free lunch,” County Commissioner David Sullivan said. “But there is one today.”
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Jefferson County reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.