Celebrate Freedom Series Events

Veterans Parade--November 7, 2009

For more than 20 years, Vancouver has honored veterans with this annual Department of Defense sanctioned parade, presented by the Lough Legacy. The parade starts with a 21-gun salute fired by Howitzer cannons from the Parade Ground of the Fort Vancouver National Site, continues along Officers Row and ends at Esther Short Park downtown.  More than 100 military, veteran and civic organizations and 2,500 individuals participate in the parade. Join us for one of the largest DOD sanctioned veterans parades on the West coast. Both of the below forms are required to participate in the parade.

Download the parade entry form here. Download the parade waiver & release form here.

Download the parade route map.

Flag Day Ceremony

Join us for Celebrate Freedom's patriotic Flag Day Ceremony, presented by Veolia Water and held at the Bandstand on the Fort Vancouver National Site Parade Ground. During this ceremony the community gathers to participate in the Annual National Pause for the Pledge and pay their respect to our country's national symbol. This youth focused event draws participation from local 5th grade classes, Boy and Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, school bands, military personnel, elected officials and community members.

Click here to view an interview about the Flag Day ceremony.

Click here to view the 2008 Celebrate Freedom Flag Day Ceremony 

The General George C. Marshall Lecture

General Marshall's tenure at the Vancouver Barracks and his unparalleled record of exemplary public service left an indelible impression on our community, where he remains greatly revered. His legacy was the catalyst for our Celebrate Freedom programs. The Marshall Lecture is the centerpiece of these patriotic programs, established in Vancouver in 1989 to foster public service, leadership, patriotism, and to honor the rich heritage of our community.

Each year we invite a national leader to deliver the Marshall Lecture to some 5,000 students and community members in attendance, and it is also broadcast to more than a million Northwest regional viewers through education television networks and other cable broadcasting channels. The lecture is delivered at Hudson Bay High School, which is located adjacent to the 366-acre Fort Vancouver National Site campus.

The past lecturers form a distinguished group, who each reflected on General Marshall's legacy with great personal perspective for our future. These have included, at the time of their address: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell; Ambassador Rozanne Ridgway; Ambassador Paul Nitze; Ambassador Bill Richardson; Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; Senator Daniel Inouye; Rt. Honorable Christopher Patten; Rear Admiral (Ret.) and American Red Cross President, Marsha Evans; NBC Nightly News Anchor Tom Brokaw, who joined us in Vancouver along with 56 of the individuals profiled in his book, The Greatest Generation, Chief of Staff for the Department of Veterans Affairs Lt. General Claude M. Kicklighter (Ret.), and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace.

In 1998, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright called the Marshall Lecture "one of the most prestigious lecture series in the United States." This signature Celebrate Freedom event provides an opportunity to witness history in the making as world class speakers deliver relevant remarks on world affairs, with a Marshall influence.

Celebrate Freedom Contact Info

Kim Hash
360.992.1804
Email Kim