Mill Creek Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

Two events planned for Veterans Day are aimed at honoring vets, and both will take strides to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The cty of Mill Creek is planning to observe Veterans Day in a way that creates a public experience by displaying a “reverse parade” with uniformed mannequins that honor veteran service. The actual event for Veterans Day will be live-streamed on the city’s social media platforms. For more information, visit #https://bit.ly/2TQ3mrz#.

A pre-recorded commemorative ceremony will be posted on Facebook, and will air live on Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. from the Mill Creek Veterans Monument, 15429 Bothell-Everett Hwy.

“Due to the social distancing mandate from Gov. Jay Inslee, no in-person participation will be allowed this year,” a city press release states.

A reverse parade follows on Main Street between at 155th Street SE (the Cold Stone Creamery) and 153rd Street SE (the corner of the former University Bookstore), the press release states, and a public viewing of the display is 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Veterans Day.

Display items collected for the reverse parade include a battlefield cross (boots, rifle, helmet, and dog tags) as well as a wreath. Uniforms from a mix of community members and staff were donated for the viewing.

Barbra Heidel worked with local elementary school students and teachers to create pictures and written notes for veterans, the city press release states. Heidel collected 70 items and after the event, Heidel will deliver the written notes to veterans in a local nursing home, the press release states.

Visit http://www.facebook.com/MillCreekWA/ to view the pre-recorded Commemorative Ceremony.

In a recent City council meeting, City Manager Michael Ciaravino announced the reverse parade and compared it to the city’s event for 9/11. In it, Mill Creek Police Chaplain Nick Lewis the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives that day.

He said the City was looking forward to recognizing Veteran’s day, “so long as this pandemic bedevils all of us” it would need to be done in a way unique to the times.

For the reverse parade, plans are to obtain uniforms from veterans and display mannequins in a canopy on Main Street.

Some say the event is not enough to honor the service of veterans, so a small group of Mill Creek residents plans to pay homage to veterans at the library.

“For the city of Mill Creek to suggest that people driving down Main Street with ‘dressed mannequins’ somewhere on the sidewalks is a tribute to U.S. veterans is, in my opinion, condescending and insulting. Our city is full of veterans, from many wars,” said Mary Kay Voss, resident, former city leader, and volunteer.

The moment of respect for veterans is planned for 11 a.m. on Veterans Day, at the Veterans Memorial Library Park. Voss invites others to join.

“Anyone who would like to meet there for sharing of stories, please feel free,” she said. “ That is a large, open public park."