This year’s Salute to Veterans kicks off the Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo and pays tribute to the men and women who have served or are currently enlisted in the armed forces, with special recognition to veterans of the Korean War (1950–1953). In the United States, the Korean War is known as “the Forgotten War” for the lack of public awareness both during and after the war ended.

“Over the past two years we’ve focused on local World War II and Vietnam veterans, but I was told by the local Band of Brothers that we skipped Korea, the forgotten one,” said Jim Erickson, outdoor entertainment director of the Deschutes County Fair Association Board. “Most people know of Korea through the TV show M*A*S*H—in other words, it’s a comedy—but we know that wasn’t true,” said Erickson.

Veterans and their families are encouraged to gather at the Eberhard’s Food Court Stage for photographs, ice cream, and music on Wednesday, August 1, starting at 1 pm. Photographs of veterans will be posted on a special wall that will remain up throughout the fair to honor those who served from Central Oregon.

Bucket List, a rock band from the Willamette Valley, will entertain fairgoers with great Vietnam-era tunes (they’ll be playing a tribute set to Tom Petty later during the fair). Eberhard’s Dairy Products will donate ice cream, which will be sold for $2 a cone, with all proceeds donated to the local Band of Brothers.

“We don’t have any major fundraising program in place, but when vets come in who need assistance, we try to provide them with some funds from our chapter,” said Tom Marple, a Bend Band of Brothers member and the MC for the salute. “The ice cream social sponsored by Eberhard’s is a great way to support local vets and eat some delicious ice cream, too.”

The Salute to Veterans program begins at 2 pm with the Deschutes Caledonia Pipe Band marching to the stage. They will be joined by flag bearers and the Redmond ROTC color guard for the ceremonial presentation of the colors and the national anthem. Afterward, a moment of silence will acknowledge those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, followed by the pipers performing “Amazing Grace.”

Oregon State Representative Gene Whisnant, a United States Air Force veteran who flew combat missions during the Vietnam War, will present the keynote address and provide some background on the Korean War.

After the address, veterans in the audience will be asked to stand and be identified by the time period during which they served and will be thanked for their service. Korean War veterans who participated in battles such as Battle Mountain, the Chosin Reservoir, or Heartbreak Ridge, to name a few, will be given the recognition they deserve but failed to receive for many years. This year also represents the 50th anniversary of the peak of the Vietnam War, and veterans from that conflict will be honored as well.

Rounding out the program, the Harmonettes, a trio of local women, will entertain the audience with boogie-woogie songs from the 1940s and ’50s.

Shuttle vans and carpools will depart from Jake’s Diner on Highway 20 in Bend for veterans to attend this time-honored tradition of paying tribute to those who have served their country. For more information on the shuttle, veterans can contact Ray Hartzell at 541-977-7883.