Tag Archive: ron clyborne

Veteran’s Day Ceremony to Dedicate Bench

Veteran's Day Ceremony to Dedicate Bench Saturday, November 11, 1 :00 PM

The Edmonds Veterans Plaza has been with us for a few years now, having been dedicated on Memorial Day in 2017. What many don’t realize is just how integral a part VFW members Jim Traner and Ron
Clyborne had in its creation. Without their vision and energy, in the initial concept and in putting together a team to bring their dream to fruition, it never would have happened.

Following Traner’ s passing this past summer, the Post decided to dedicate one of the benches in the circular setting area on the east side of the Plaza to our two comrades who had such a large part in bringing this jewel to Edmonds veterans. The photo above, shows the bench with it’s engraving complete. A dedication ceremony will be held on Veterans Day, November 11, 2023 at 1 :00 PM. Above right is a photo help us locate the bench within the plaza.

Veteran's Day Ceremony to Dedicate Bench

Memorial Day at Edmonds Veterans Plaza 

Local veterans gathered at Edmonds’ Veterans Plaza Monday afternoon to honor their fallen comrades in a short ceremony. 

Ron Clyborne, a Vietnam veteran, spoke about the efforts to create the memorial plaza dedicated to veterans, starting with a vision nine years ago followed by planning, fundraising and construction. Edmonds’ Veterans Plaza officially opened on Memorial Day 2017. 

In her remarks, Edmonds City Council President and U.S. Air Force veteran Vivian Olson pointed to the myriad heroes giving back to Edmonds every day through arts, charities and service. She also spoke about the fragility of democracy, underscored by the current conflict in Ukraine. 

Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson offered thanks to those attending for their service. 

At the end of the event, Vietnam veterans Mike Reagan — founder of the Fallen Heroes Project — and Duane Bowman distributed pins to families of those veterans whose loved ones came home from Vietnam, and buttons to those Vietnam vets who served when called to duty. 

Annual Legion/VFW Joint Christmas Party Held

Annual Legion/VFW Joint Christmas Party Held

The Silver Bells Carolers brought a mood of heightened festivity.
To the caroler’s left is a beautiful hand-made quilt donated by Dorothy Harkness, which was bought at auction by Buck Weaver.

Annual Legion/VFW Joint Christmas Party Held

Ron Clyborne displays raffle winnings.

Dinner which included turkey, ham and all the trimmings was enjoyed by a nearly full house.

Many thanks to Paul Bustard for providing turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Raffle items donated by the post leadership brought over $ 1,000 for the general fund. Members also donated food for the Edmonds Food Bank and new toys for disadvantaged children, long-standing traditions for this event.

Annual Legion/VFW Joint Christmas Party Held

September Concert in the Edmonds Veterans Plaza

Edmonds Woodway H.S. Musicians Perform

Voice of Democracy champion OliviaOur own Voice of Democracy champion, with the help and support of fellow student Roger Kitchen and VFW and Plaza Committee members Mike Reagan and Ron Clyborne, produced and presented a musical event at Edmonds Veterans Plaza, with a group of Edmonds Woodway High School musicians on Saturday, September 2.

The goal of these young people, under Olivia’s leadership, was to honor the Plaza and the Veterans it represents. The concert was free to attend, but a donation box accepted contributions to go toward the ongoing support of the Plaza, and collected over $ 800.

These wonderful high school musicians performed three sets of music, which were received with enthusiastic applause and standing ovations.

September Concert in the Edmonds Veterans Plaza

First up was a string quartet featuring a mostly classical selection which, to your editor’s ear, they performed flawlessly.

Following the quartet was a duet of violin and cello with a blend of classical and Scots/Irish folk tunes.

September Concert in the Edmonds Veterans Plaza

Last, but certainly not least, we were treated to an excellent performance by a jazz quartet.

September Concert in the Edmonds Veterans Plaza

This group of young men and women displayed a superb level of musical skill, reflecting, no doubt, a high level of talent and much hard work from early childhood. Of course we can’t neglect to congratulate the wonderful music educators of Edmonds Woodway H.S. who help develop these young musicians.

A big Thank You to Olivia and her musician friends!

 

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Status

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Status Ron ClyborneAt the July Post meeting, Ron Clyborne, pictured at left during the 2016 Independence Day Parade, Chair of the Plaza Committee, gave us an update on our new Edmonds Veterans Plaza. As of the date of our July meeting, funding pledges exceeded $500,000, well over our initial funding goal of $420,000.

The committee has decided to add an interactive Veterans Service Kiosk at the Plaza. This Kiosk will be a device similar to an ATM, the purpose of which will be to allow veterans visiting the plaza to access Veterans services information on site.

A delay in the bidding process has pushed out the projected dedication date beyond Jan 1, 2017. The committee will keep us informed as the completion/dedication dates solidify.

Veterans Plaza Funding Goal Achieved!

Edmonds Veterans Plaza drawing

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Wall

The largest single donation received from an individual or family has put the Edmonds Veterans Plaza funding goal over the top; $16,000 from Bruce and Elaine Nickolson is the largest contribution from an individual donor, according to Ron Clyborne, chairman of the Plaza committee.

The volunteer co-chair of the Plaza’s funding committee, Tom Mesaros, said that the local community is being encouraged to continue to support the Plaza with their donations. Mesaros added, “Experience has shown that there is a possibility of unanticipated cost overruns. And of course there is the occasional enhancement that the committee failed to think of. Having a financial cushion to cover items like these is a responsible idea.”

The Plaza will consist of two complementary areas. The main plaza will feature a chest-high granite or marble wall honoring veterans of the five military services. The wall will incorporate waterfalls and emblems of the five services. Directly adjacent will be a Memorial Garden, a place of reflection dedicated to veterans that have passed away. Citizens may honor specific individual veterans by purchasing paving stones, dedicated benches and seating cubes that match the wall.

Donors Bruce and Elaine Nickolson are well-known locals. He is a 37-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Master Chief Petty Officer, followed by achieving an engineering degree the University of Washington and going on to found an electronics manufacturing firm, Opcon, Inc. Nickolson is a founder of the Edmonds Car Show and he and Elaine are founding members of the Edmonds Center for the Arts.

Persons wishing to be a part of the Edmonds Veterans Plaza may donate by mailing a contribution to Edmonds Veterans Plaza, c/o Edmonds VFW Post 8870, PO Box 701, Edmonds, WA 98020. (Make
checks payable to Edmonds Veterans Plaza.) On-line donations can be made at http:// edmondsveteransplaza.com.

Clyborne said that construction is planned to begin by August 1 and the Plaza will be dedicated at a
public ceremony on Veterans Day of this year, Friday November 11.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Update

Design Elements

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Update Design Elements

Piictured above is the Navy portion of the curb wall, which will feature identical sections for Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Veterans.

 

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Update Design Elements

Above and tt right are images of those section being called “Seat Wall” and “Seat Cube” respectively, which are designed to give visitors a place for reading, quiet contemplation, or simply to enjoy the space

Fund Raising Undwerway

Under the Guidance of VFW Post 8870 and lead by the efforts of Ron Clyborne, a fundraising committee comprised of civic leaders, both veteran and non veteran, have begun work to raise the approximately $ 450,000 the project is projected to require.

There is already some seed money in the bank, including a donation from the city of Edmonds, among others and there is no doubt that sustantial contributions will be forthcoming as the word spreads in and around Edmonds.

Details of what the final result is expected to look like can be found on the project web page at http://edmondsveteransplaza.com/. (Some examples shown at left)

There is also a Facebook page under the name Edmonds Veterans Plaza. Online donations can be made from either of those two sites.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Update Design ElementsWhile we are, of course, looking for large sponsors who can support our project in substantial sums, in the end we will also need lots of small donations, so your online donation is welcome in any amount you can provide.

The important thing is for all of us associated with Veterans causes to do our part to promote and support the project in any way we can.

 

Edmonds Community College Student Veterans Host 2nd Annual Memorial Day Ceremony

A number of us attended the Memorial Day ceremonies at ECC and organized by the Veterans Resource Center. Our own Buck Weaver lead the audience in “America the Beautiful” while Ron Clyborne described the Veterans Plaza project. Opening remarks were made by Dr. Jean Hernendez, College President, who deserves special thanks in making ECC one of the most veteran friendly schools in America. As a Vietnam veteran and a product of the U of W in the early ‘70’s, no one is a better position to see the contrast better than me.

The featured speaker was Colonel Bruce Meyers, USMC retired. He served as a platoon leader in WWII, a rifle company commander in Korea, and was the Marine commander at Khe Sanh. The Col. had a remarkable military career and we thoroughly enjoyed his presentation. Interestingly, following his retirement from the Marine Corp, he became a practicing trial attorney for many years in Seattle and later served as a associate dean and associate professor of law at a West Coast law school. I’d would have hated to answer a question wrong in his class—you’d probably be dropping for 20.