On Saturday, November 11th, Veterans Day, both officers from the Homer Police Department, members of the Homer Fire Department, along with local elected officials, honored all Veterans at the Veterans Police and Fire Memorial at Durkee Park in the Village of Homer.
Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and November 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or dead—but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.
Homer Fire Department Veterans:
- Bill Reif – Army WWII
- Emil Wakula (Koolie) – Army Vietnam Purple Heart
- Mahlon Irish, Sr. – Army Korea Past Chief
- Don Mudge – Army
- Charlie Crosley – Marine Past Chief
- Ken Wheeler
- Ralph Thornton – Army
- David Barber – Army
- Charlie Ford, Sr. – Army
- Francis Riter Nany -Sea Bees Past Dept. Pres
- Joe Riley – Marine Iraq/Afghanistan
- John Riter – Army Korea Past Chief – mentor
- Gary McEuen – Air Force Sergeant
- Maynard Cottom – Navy WWII
- Mike MaGee – Army
- Pat Helms – Army Vietnam
- Leonard Contento – Army WWII
- Bob Johnson – Army/Reserves Rescue Squad
- Rick Reddick – Marine Desert Storm
- Brandon Fairbanks – Army
- Thomas Bernheim (Bonzo) – Navy
- Fred Coolidge – Army Vietnam
- Gordy Ivory – Marine Dept. Chaplin
- Don Glover – Air Force
- John Ryan, Sr. – Air Force Past Chief
- Robert Keegan – Army
- Joseph Congdon – Army
Homer Police Department Veterans:
Past Officers:
- Chief George Vernum – Marine WWI
- Chief David Sampson – Army Vietnam
- Officer Brandon Gilbert – Air Force Afghanistan/Iraq
Current Officers:
- Officer F. Jay Forbes – Air Force /Dept Chaplin
- Officer Steven Morgan – Army
- Officer David VanOrden – Army
