Blustery or sunshiny weather matters not to those gathering at Tahoma National Cemetery
(TNC) this coming Friday, November 11, beginning at 11 a.m. for a special Veterans
Day service honoring all veterans who have given – or who are currently giving –
a part of their lives in service to protecting this country and the way of life
we all have come to cherish.
Those participating in the special service include Gateway Concert Band, with conductor
Jack Pringle, Washington National Guard and Honor Guard Units, Issaquah Singers
with Dorothy Hay, Chaplin Daniel Shaw, Lt. Cmd. USNR, American Legion 15, Support
Group Chairman Al Rasmussen, and buglers Dave Davis and Bernie Moskowitz.
TNC Director Jim Trimbo will be on hand to give his Welcome Address as well as recognize
special guest speaker Ron Cheich. Director of Business Process Improvement Services
for the National Cemetery Administration, Cheich graduated with a bachelor’s degree
in business administration from Cleveland State University in 1975. Then in 1979,
he began working in federal service with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a
revenue agent. During his time with the Department of Treasury, he made his way
up to Acting Staff Director for the IRS Modernization Management Board. He was recognized
in a White House ceremony for his work in improving access to customer service for
taxpayers throughout the country.
Accepting a position with the Department of Veterans Affairs in the Office Strategic
Planning in 1998, Cheich went on to move in to the National Cemetery Administration
in 2000. His primary focus at the National Cemetery Administration has been to improve
customer service for veterans and their families. He then became the Director of
the Business Process Improvement Service in 2008.
Another special speaker for the day will be Joe Lavoie, USN retired. As part of
his 20-year career in the Navy, LaVoie spent 18 months on Swiftboat duty in Vietnam.
After retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer, he went into land surveying before retiring
a second time. Now he devotes full time to Honor Guard duties at TNC.
Be sure to arrive early for this very special annual event, as parking is limited.
Tahoma National Cemetery is located at 18600 SE 240th St., just east of Tahoma High
School.
Pictured: They gave their lives in service to this country – now it is once again
time to honor them this coming Veterans Day – Friday, November 11. Photo by Cary
Collins
