Washington families unite for awareness walk

Ken Christian Jr. came for his son, an active-duty combat medic who served during some of the heaviest fighting in Iraq. Blake Maggart came to honor his late father, Brandon, who was killed in Iraq in August 2010 – the day before Blake turned 3.

They joined American Legion family members, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Lion’s Club members, grandparents, soldiers and city officials in showing DuPont, Wash., that they care about veterans and families during American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett’s 15th Walk for Veterans on Sunday.

“The message is our American veterans and our family members are a very, very precious treasure of our country,” Barnett said. “We need to recognize their service each and every day – and make every day veterans day.”

The American Legion is an important part of that equation, participants said. “We need to make people aware there is an American Legion post here and we’re here to help in any way we can,” said Bob Schwartz, adjutant of Pat Tillman Memorial Post 53, which hosted the walk.

“We’re the best kept secret,” added Ken Lee who traveled from Post 84 in Oroville, Wash., for the event. “We keep trying to reverse that. These walks are instrumental in doing that.”

Sunday’s walk was particularly notable for family participation. Staff Sgt. Leo Gruba was joined by his wife, Serena, and sons Austin, 1, and L.J., 7. Gruba, who is part of the 17th Field Artillery Brigade, also is vice commander of Post 53 and SAL squadron commander. Serena is a member of the Post 53 Legion Auxiliary.

Christian, Department of Washington Area 2 commander, walked because he is concerned about servicemembers like his son. “It’s a shame I can’t do more for him,” Christian said. “I think we need to get the word out that our vets need help now.”

Mike Montaney of Post 28 in Ephrata, Wash., was joined on the walk by his wife, Jane, grandson Tyler Anderson – a Sons of The American Legion squadron member in Lacey, Wash. – as well as grandson Mike Anderson, who also is a member of Post 28. Granddaughters Rebecca and Kayla Illman also attended despite chilly temperatures and an intermittent biting breeze.

The weather prompted Barnett to joke – “You’re authorized to hug someone else if they get a little cold” – just before the walk began in Powderworks Park in DuPont. Still, the rain held in abeyance and yellow slickers were soon tucked away as the group made their way through neighborhoods and on toward the business district.

The walkers came upon a long line of flags along McNeil Street, each honoring a fallen soldier from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Blake Maggart was waiting for Barnett by the flag honoring his father, who was killed Aug. 22, 2010, by Iraqi insurgents. Maggart helps put up the 49 flags every Saturday in an ongoing effort to honor his father, said Denny Bernardy, of the group Wear Blue: Run to Remember, which started the tradition.

After the walk, Rebecca Medicine Eagle from the American Red Cross presented the Legion with Christmas cards handmade by local Cub Scout and Boy Scout troops. Army Reservist Moises Lozacruz, meanwhile, decided to join the Legion on the spot. He was immediately followed by Dede Teeters of Port Orchard, Wash. – whose father and grandfather were veterans – in joining the Legion Auxiliary.

Barnett was impressed by every aspect of the day. “I would put up that DuPont, Washington, is a model of what all communities should be doing for our veterans and families.”

But Gruba also hopes his generation of veterans recognizes what The American Legion has long done for veterans and families. “Without the generation of veterans that came before us, we wouldn’t have anybody to turn to when our VA claims don’t get processed,” Gruba said. “We wouldn't have anybody to turn to when we couldn’t get education benefits or college benefits. I want my generation to understand that with the Legion, we have a voice.”