SALUTE PIERCE COUNTY!
4:00 pm, Sunday, October 19, 2014 at the American Lake Conference Center, 8085 NCO Beach Road, Joint Base Lewis-McChord: We honor the military history of Pierce County during this centennial year of the First World War.
100 years ago, the "war to end all wars" began in Europe. We know it today as World War I.
Three years later, in 1917, America entered the war. In that same year, an army base, one soon to play a vital role in supplying US troops to the battlefields of Europe, was founded on the then-remote prairies of Pierce County, Washington.
Named Camp Lewis in honor of Captain Meriwether Lewis, one-half of the team that led the first American expedition into the Pacific Northwest (the other half being Second Lieutenant Willliam Clark, of course), it was renamed Fort Lewis in 1927. After merging with adjoining McChord Air Force Base in 2010, it was given the name we know it by today: Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Now Lakewood Historical Society and Tacoma Historical Society join forces to commemorate the centennial of World War I and celebrate Pierce County's rich military history.
Schedule of events for Sunday, October 19th:
Social hour begins at 4 pm with no-host bar, music, and exhibition of historic displays (including "Beauty and Duty", one-of-a-kind exhibit of women's WW I uniforms from private collection of Alice and Steve Miller). Tickets available for prize drawing later in the evening.
Exclusive preview of the documentary, Pershing's Last Patriot, the moving story of America's last veteran of World War I.
Featured speakers: Myles Grant, Director of Lewis Army Museum and Major General (USA Ret.) James "Jimmie" Collins, former Deputy Commander of I Corps, JBLM, currently serving as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Washington State.
Emceed by Brigadier General (USA Ret.) Doug Richardson, program also includes presentation of awards from the Lakewood and Tacoma Historical Societies to The Honorable Norm Dicks, U.S. Representative from Washington's 6th District (1977-2013) and to Dr. Claudia Thomas, educator, champion of youth and former City of Lakewood Councilmember and Mayor.
Buffet dinner begins at 6 pm, followed by dessert dash.
Proceeds benefit both the Lakewood and Tacoma Historial Societies in their efforts to protect, preserve and promote our local history.
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