Major General Timothy Lowenberg is slated to be the keynote speaker at the fourth annual Honoring Our Own event on Veterans Day.
The event will run 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at Todd Beamer High School — and is one that Lowenberg said he was more than happy to be a part of, especially given the trials and tribulations many veterans face these days.
“Any opportunity to acknowledge the service of the millions of men and women who have worn the uniform of their country is always an honor and a privilege,” Lowenberg said. “There’s a rich history to the observance in Federal Way, and I’m just proud to be a part of that.”
Lowenberg plans to speak about the history of Veterans Day, and the changing face of the military in today’s society, along with the aforementioned set of challenges that today’s veterans face, whether deployed or at home.
Lowenberg officially retired in 2012 after being the second-longest serving Adjutant General of Washington State, holding that post from 1999 to 2012. His career spanned four decades, with much of his time spent at Joint Base Lewis McChord.
Even after that lifetime of service, Lowenberg still gives to his country by serving as an advisor for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation.
“We’re expected to provide advice and counsel on subjects ranging over the entire span of Veterans Administration actives,” he said. “That’s a big charter, obviously. It’s an extraordinarily large and complex federal agency, but it touches the lives of thousands upon thousands of men and women across the country.”
With so many obstacles facing veterans and their families these days, it seems as though any effort at trying to help veterans is a drop of water in an ocean. While that may be mostly true, Lowenberg noted people can help veterans in simple ways.
“I think everyone can begin by simply taking the step to acknowledge the people around them who have served or are serving,” he said. “Only one percent of the entire American population today serves in uniform. And quite often (the people closest to them) don’t have any personal life experience through which they can relate to what the veterans have sacrificed and experienced in serving their nation.”
This simple act, Lowenberg believes, can provide untold benefits to veterans.
“Just acknowledging that someone is a veteran, and showing interest in their service, and learning from them what it’s like to serve, and through them, (people can learn) what challenges they confront transitioning from the military to civilian life,” he said. “Just that expression of outreach, that personal touch, that personal connection, is something that every single community member can do.”
Honoring Our Own
Federal Way’s fourth annual tribute to veterans “Honoring Our Own,” sponsored by the Historical Society of Federal Way and the Kiwanis Club of Federal Way, will take place on Veterans Day from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at Todd Beamer High School, 35999 16th Ave. S.
“Honoring Our Own” is a free community event. Present will be local government and school officials; Nancy Jaenicke of Reach Out homeless shelters; Todd Beamer and Federal Way ROTC groups; Boy Scout and Police Explorers; and members of VFW Post 2886. Patriotic songs will be performed by Nana Lemeveve, local entertainer Carol Stanley and Federal Way’s popular group Harmony Kings.
Civil War re-enactor Carl Hicks will be present in uniform. Hicks will bring a display of Civil War artifacts, including a musket and bayonet. Refreshments will be provided at the end of the program. A new feature this year will be a community dance following the program at 8 p.m. The Todd Beamer Wind Ensemble will be playing big band music, and Arthur Murray and Pacific Ballroom Dance groups will be on site for lessons.
