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Media contacts: Ann Hartman, 360-902-9476
                                Janelle Guthrie, 360-902-9289

OLYMPIA – Washington veterans will speak about their experiences at a Veterans Day ceremony from noon to 1 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the state capitol campus.

The public is invited to gather at the WWII Memorial to hear Jairus Rice, decorated Marine Corps veteran. Rice completed three combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom between 2003 and 2007.

Event attendees will then travel to the Winged Victory Monument, the POW-MIA Memorial, the Medal of Honor Monument, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and conclude at the Korean War Memorial, hearing a speaker or music at each stop.

Other speakers will be: Danny Salazar and Felicia Wright of the Employment Security Department; Shawn Caskin of the Department of Social & Health Services; and Lyndsey Beaupre of the Department of Agriculture. Caskin and Beaupre also are members of the state Veteran Employee Resource Group.

The ceremony is the 26th annual event sponsored by the International Association of Workforce Professionals (IAWP), the Employment Security Department’s Veteran Employee Resource Group, and by the Washington Federation of State Employees.

Gary Condra, deputy director of the State Department of Veterans Affairs, will emcee the event. Vocalists Rhetta Barker and Jeanette Nelson of the Employment Security Department and trumpeter Vincent Anderson of the Health Care Authority will perform patriotic songs.

“Veterans Day is the day we honor our soldiers and their families who give ultimate sacrifices for ‘we the people,’” said Sarah C. Wilson, IAWP Southwest subchapter president. “Please join us.”

The Color Guard from the Washington Youth Academy will open and close the ceremony, and also lead attendees to each memorial. Anderson will formally end the ceremony with “Taps.”

Flags and U.S. Marines roses will be available for participants to place at the memorials.

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Broadcast version

Washington veterans will speak about their experiences at a Veterans Day ceremony next Thursday. This 26th annual event will be from noon to 1 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the state capitol campus.

The public is invited to gather at the WWII Memorial near the corner of Capitol Way South and 11th Avenue Southeast. Jairus Rice, decorated Marine Corps veteran, will speak there.

Rice completed three combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

A color guard from the Washington Youth Academy will open and close the ceremony, and also lead attendees to five other memorials on the campus. Each stop will feature music and a speaker.

Gary Condra, deputy director of the State Department of Veterans Affairs, will emcee the event.

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