Honoring the ones among us, and those who have passed who have served our country.
The Portland community came together at the community center to commemorate to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
One by one, heroes stood side by side to be honored for their service.
Retired Col. Richard Myers says honoring veterans is one of the most important things we can do.
“It shows that the nation cares, the citizens recognize the trials and tribulations that war brings,” Meyers said.
The day means so much to Charles Troglen, a U.S. Army combat flight paramedic, who says he was the one to call whenever there were casualties in combat. Troglen, along with his team, would fly in and retrieve the soldiers to bring them back to safety.
“You have to be able to be strong in this field… a lot of the casualties… when they are injured in combat it not a very nice sight,” Troglen said.
Troglen saved a confirmed 157 soldiers in his Army career. He says seeing the same heroes now brings him great joy.
“Remember that they have families just like you, and my job was to bring them back to their families… we leave nobody behind,” Troglen said.
Not only were the veterans honored, but a Gold Star mother as well. In November 2003, Betty Russell lost her son Sgt. John Wayne Russell in Iraq.
“When I got notified that John was gone, it’s not a good memory,” Russell said. She said it is important that children recognize how much value the day brings.
“They need to know why they get to run around and play and to the things they do, and what its costs others in order for them to have such a good life, that it’s not free,” Russell said.
