Local Honor Guard participates in MIAP ceremony

Members of the Ritzville VFW and American Legion Honor Guard participated in the Missing in America Project (MIAP)/Forgotten Heroes Ride when it stopped at Love’s Travel Stop on Aug. 30.

Love’s was one of many stops for the MIAP Forgotten Heroes Ride, which saw veteran riders from across the state converge to Ritzville before they rode 50 miles to the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake.

According to the MIAP website, the program’s purpose is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of American veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations. Through its work, the project provides honor and respect to soldiers who have served this country by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes.

The Patriot Guard Riders is a volunteer, federally registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization. They are a diverse group of riders from across the United States.

However, they all have a respect for veterans who have served their country, including fallen military heroes, first responders and honorably discharged veterans.

During the ceremony at Love’s, American Legion Post No. 51 Commander Mark Shepherd and VFW Post 11446 member Mark Cameron unfolded an American Flag, while Honor Guard member Maurice Root played a recording of Taps on a ceremonial bugle.

Members from the Spokane VFW Post 51 Honor Guard fired a three-volley salute to honor the deceased heroes.

After Shepherd folded the flag with Cameron, he presented the flag to Iris Greenwalt, who was selected to represent the women and family members who would receive the flag during a military funeral ceremony.

The flag was transported to the Washington State Veterans Cemetery, joining the several urns containing the remains of 28 veterans, transported by a group of almost 70 motorcyclists. The Washington State Veterans Cemetery will have a funeral ceremony for the veterans later this fall.

Shepherd said the MIAP reached out to the local Honor Guard to participate in the ceremony. He said he missed the opportunity to participate in the previous two ceremonies because of his job as a Washington State Patrol Trooper.

Shepherd retired from the Washington State Patrol, which allowed him the time to participate in this year’s event.

“It’s paying our respect and honor to those who didn’t get that when they were supposed to,” Shepherd said.

Greenwalt, a member of the VFW Post 51 Ladies Auxiliary, said Shepherd asked her to receive the flag during the ceremony. She said it was an honor for her to accept the flag and participate in the event.

Ritzville VFW Quartermaster Dennis Greenwalt reached out to the Spokane VFW honor guard to participate in the ceremony.

Shepherd said he hopes to have the entire Honor Guard present at next year’s ceremony.