Community

Photo Gallery: ‘Respect and Remember Our Veterans’

Posted on November 12th, 2021 By: Gig Harbor Now Staff

People parked in an Uptown Shopping Center lot Thursday, remaining dry and physically distanced, to celebrate local veterans. Some could see the “Respect and Remember Our Veterans” ceremony unfold under a tent top. Most listened on their car radios or watched on devices.

Greg Copeland, KING-5 TV newscaster and 1990 Peninsula High School graduate, hosted the fourth annual event, the second held outdoors because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Featured honorees were men and women who served during World War II and Hugh McMillan, a retired CIA agent and longtime community activist and education reporter. Also acknowledged were Navy Capt. Richard Rhinehart, retired former commander of Naval Base Kitsap, and retired Navy Capt. Richard Genet, former commander of the guided missile cruiser USS Sterett and a founder of the Gig Harbor Veterans Day committee.

Former Peninsula School District superintendent Jim Coolican, who was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions as a Marine Corps captain during the Vietnam War, delivered the keynote address.

Photos by Charlee Glock-Jackson:

Naval Band Northwest's brass quintet, from Bremerton, provided live music.

Navy Band Northwest’s brass quintet, from Bremerton, provided live music.

Navy ROTC members from local high schools comprised the color guard.

Retired Navy Capt. Richard Rheinhart and emcee Greg Copeland check the number of a winning raffle ticket.

Keynote speaker Jim Coolican – USMC, Recipient of the Navy Cross, past Superintendent of Peninsula School District

Jim Coolican, a retired Marine Corps captain who received the Navy Cross and was a former superintendent of Peninsula School District, was the keynote speaker.

Capt. Richard Reinhart, retired Commanding Officer of Naval Base Kitsap

Capt. Richard Rheinhart, retired commanding officer of Naval Base Kitsap.

Emcee Greg Copeland with the local veterans who were honored at the Veterans Day event: from left — Hugh McMillan, Georgia Doane, Al Watts, Chuck Meacham, Jack Day and Wally Cornman.