Maple Valley Farmers’ Market will be celebrating its 3rd Annual MVFM Veteran & Troop
Appreciation Day on Saturday, August 20, during normal Market hours from 9:00 a.m.
-1:00 p.m. at Rock Creek Elementary School.
Headlining the festivities, beginning at 10:00 a.m., will be the Master of Ceremonies
for this special ceremony--retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Chuck Hardaway, locally
renowned for his career as a military pilot. Hardaway flew 104 combat missions in
Vietnam and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, seven Air Medals, the Meritorious
Service Medal, three Air Force Commendation Medals, and the Vietnamese Cross of
Gallantry. He retired in 1977 after 22 years of military service, and then volunteered
for seven years on the Area Council, ten years on the Maple Valley School Board,
and two years on the Maple Valley City Council; he also served as chairman of the
Seattle-King County Private Industry Council. Additionally, for the past thirteen
years Hardaway has written a popular weekly editorial column for the VOICE of the
Valley entitled “One Man’s Opinion.” On Saturday Hardaway will introduce the veterans
and will speak about “The Cost of War.”
In addition to conducting the opening ceremonies and flag ceremony, Maple Valley/Black
Diamond VFW Post 5052 will host an information booth. And, Market visitors should
make certain to see the City of Maple Valley Wall of Honor, a tribute to veterans
and soldiers from the Maple Valley region, which will be on display at the Market.
Christian Friends of Troops, a mission of the Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church,
will host a collection box for cell phones for soldiers. The group was founded in
2003 by Mrs. T.A. (Louise) Brown, who wanted to help military personnel in Iraq.
Starting with the names of five military police, she sent prayers, care packages,
and postcards, and held annual "Welcome Home, Hero" celebrations for military personnel
who served in war zones. At the Maple Valley Farmers’ Market entrance on Saturday,
Christian Friends of Troops will collect unwanted cell phones, which will be exchanged
for pre-paid calling cards for the troops through "Cell Phones for Soldiers,” founded
by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquest from Norwell, Mass. This organization
sends the collected phones to ReCellular, which pays for each phone received - enough
to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad. For additional information,
you may contact Carol, 425-413-1382.
In addition to the recognition events specifically geared toward Veterans/ and Troops
Day, Maple Valley Historical Society will host an information booth. The Historical
Society is an all-volunteer organization formed over 35 years ago, with a current
paid membership of over 300 people and organizations. Its goals are to “teach people
about the history of the Greater Maple Valley area, provide a means for people to
do research on their heritage, and to showcase the history of the area through maintaining
three museums with displays of the past” (http://maplevalleyhistorical.com/).
Other participating non-profit groups include Stephanie Thomas of the King County
Master Recycler Composter program, Maple Valley/Enumclaw Master Gardeners, and Peace
Lutheran Church Preschool is planning special crafts for the youngsters.
The Farmers’ Market season is over halfway complete on this tenth Saturday of the
season, so Maple Valley residents will certainly want to visit the 40+ booths and
stock up on fresh, local produce; cheese; baked goods; meat; fresh flower bouquets;
beautiful hand-crafted artisan creations; and delicious prepared booths from the
six booths selling breakfast and lunch items, organic tea, soup and salad, and much
more.
The always-popular weekly entertainment will be provided by a return visit from
Sealth, a pop grunge band from Maple Valley. According to the group’s Facebook page,
the band “blends a potentially dangerous cocktail made of equal parts hometown grunge
and classic rock with a heavy dose of hairspray. Combining musical influences ranging
from Poison to Pearl Jam and Yes to Neil Young, Sealth can at one moment be seen
in the middle of a choreographed ‘dance move,’ then be heard wailing an angsty shriek
just before exploding into an epic blues-inspired guitar solo the next.”
More information on Maple Valley Farmers’ Market is available at 425-463-6751 or
at info@maplevalleyfarmersmarket.org. All MVFM fans are encouraged to “Friend us
on FACEBOOK,” and to remember that the Maple Valley Farmers’ Market is the “Saturday
morning place to be.”
