PHILOMATH â In honor of Armed Forces Day and Peace Officers Memorial Day, the tight-knit community of Philomath turned out by the dozens at Mt. Union Cemetery on Saturday afternoon. The event was a memorial and celebration of those who serve, both in the armed forces and as first responders.
â2020 was a rough year for all of us,â said Eric Niemann, former Philomath mayor and member of the American Legion Post 100. âPandemic, PPE distribution, riots, wildfire containment, vaccination administration â the National Guard stepped up to help us out when we are at our worst.â
Niemann explained the history of both Armed Forces Day and Peace Officer Memorial Day. The former was started in 1949 to establish a holiday that honored those currently serving in the military, while the latter was started by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to honor law enforcement and other peace officers.