Veterans from all branches were honored during two annual ceremonies at the state Capitol Campus on Monday, the Veterans Day holiday.
During the annual Veterans Day ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda, the invocation was delivered by Aaron “SgtQ” Quinonex, followed by keynote speaker Abuoh Neufville, an Army veteran who is now assistant director for veterans services, counseling and welfare for the Washington Department of Veterans. Business. Neufville encouraged all veterans to remain active in serving the community.
Longtime Olympia announcer Dick Pust was the program’s Master of Ceremonies and was joined on stage by fellow Army veteran and current Olympia Mayor Dante Payne.
Music was provided by the Washington State American Legion Band and the Olympia Youth Chorus.
Immediately following the ceremony, the Sacajawea Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored those who served in the Vietnam War with a ceremony at the Vietnam Memorial Wall, just north of Sid Snyder Avenue Southwest.
In addition to the reading of the names on the wall, an enactment ceremony took place for the spouses and other family members of deceased Vietnam veterans.
