The Community Military Appreciation Committee (CMAC), the City of Vancouver and the National Parks Service will be hosting a special Memorial Day program at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Monday, May 25. The program, which is prepared in advance, will feature remarks by Larry Smith and Mike Burton from CMAC, Superintendent of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Tracy Fortmann, Mayor of Vancouver Anne McEnerny-Ogle and Meredith McMackin, a Gold Star Mother. The keynote speaker for the event will be General Donna Prigmore of the Oregon National Guard. The program will be available to watch on CVTV cable channel 23/323HD and on cvtv.org.

Music for the broadcast program will be provided by the 204th Army Band, Vancouver Fire Fighters Pipes and Drums, the Vancouver Police Department and the VFW Post 7824 Honor Guard.

“The coronavirus pandemic prevents us from gathering the year together as we normally would, but consistent with guidance from national, state and local public health authorities, we are safely observing Memorial Day. By videotaping speakers’ remarks this year from different location, we are responsibly doing our part for our community, our healthcare heroes, other front-line workers and first responders and those who are vulnerable,” Tracy Fortmann said in a news release.

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 Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Our Community Salutes, and POW/MIA Day ceremonies, as well as recognition and support of military families of all services.

As soon as it’s available we will post a link here to the Memorial Day video.