Apr 16 2022
Greg Lehman | Union-Bulletin
A large crowd gathered at the corner of The Dalles Military and Myra roads in Walla Walla on Friday, April 15, in spite of the wet snow and cold to dedicate this community's Gold Star Families Memorial Monument located at that spot on the Fort Walla Walla Park grounds.
These monuments, sprinkled around the nation, are tributes to Gold Star families whose loved ones died in the line of duty. They honor the service members’ ultimate sacrifice and acknowledge their families’ loss, grief and continued healing, as stated on one side of the memorial.
Installation was completed in late 2020. Gen. James Mattis was a surprise guest at the ceremony. The Eastern Washington native, retired general and former U.S. secretary of state spoke to those gathered, which included Gold Star families, guests, community members and people involved in starting the Gold Star Families program and bringing this monument to Walla Walla.