 "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
-- John F. Kennedy --
 While it will, probably, rain on our parade tomorrow, that's never stopped us before! Bring an umbrella, put on your raincoats, and come prepared to celebrate and honor our Auburn-area veterans at the City of Auburn's 59th annual Veterans Parade and Observance Saturday.
Our incredible Parks, Arts and Recreation team and parade volunteers have planned a day full of events, starting with our annual breakfast, remembrance ceremony, the parade proper, luncheon and more!
I can't wait to see you all there and remember -- when you see the C-17 or the Huey helicopter fly overhead (yes, we’re scheduled for two flyovers), you know it's time to begin!
 We encourage spectators to arrive early, bring a folding chair, a flag, and your best salute. A handful of Food Trucks will be located on South Division Street from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Parade emcees will be located at the corner of Main St & Division Street and at the corner of Main and B Street NE.
 There are numerous other events in Auburn to celebrate and honor Veterans:
American Legion Community Breakfast
Saturday, Nov. 9, 7 – 9 a.m.
Auburn Senior Activity Center
Co-sponsored by the American Legion Post #78 and the City of Auburn, the annual American Legion Community Breakfast is held at the Auburn Senior Activity Center, 808 Ninth Street SE, on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 7 - 9 a.m. A generous breakfast for $10 includes pancakes, eggs, ham and juice or coffee. Tickets available at the door.
Veterans Remembrance Ceremony and Lighting of the Flame
Saturday, Nov. 9, 9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Veterans Memorial Park
This special ceremony will take place on Nov. 9 from 9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. at Auburn’s Veterans Memorial Park, 411 E Street NE, and will feature patriotic music, an honor guard and 21-gun salute. Once lit, the flame at the Veterans Memorial will be guarded for 24 hours.
Veterans Day Marching Band Competition
Saturday, Nov. 9, 2 – 10 p.m.
Auburn Memorial Stadium
The competition starts at 1 p.m. at Auburn Memorial Stadium, 801 Fourth St. NE, Auburn. Several bands will compete in the field competition, which includes great music, drill and precision performances from some of the best high school marching bands in the Pacific Northwest. Admission is charged at the stadium gate (discount ticket prices available for students, children and seniors).
I talked to 570 KVI's Ari Hoffman about Veterans Parade
Wednesday afternoon I talked with Ari Hoffman on his show at 570 KVI about the Veterans Parade -- the number of participants, the chance of rain, and how it may or may not be the largest of its kind west of the Mississippi.
While we've heard San Diego may have a bigger parade, it could never measure to the amount of heart and care and honor that goes into ours! We may not have the largest number of participants in the parade, but we'll never be outsized by someone who says they care more or honor their veterans more than we do.
Have a listen below, and I'll see you tomorrow!
 On Tuesday, I attended the Veterans Day Luncheon at the Auburn Senior Activity Center – honoring all who served. The Auburn Mountainview JROTC Color Guard was there to present The Colors, as well as the Auburn Mountainview High School Wind Ensemble to perform the Marches of the Armed Forces. The room was filled with military veterans, their friends and family. I am always honored to attend and in awe of the service years in that room. After lunch, a microphone was passed around and each veteran is asked to give their name, branch of service, and years served. This year, I tried to keep track of all the years, and even though a few declined to share how many years they served, collectively there were 301 years accounted for! That is amazing!
It's tradition in Auburn for many in the community to attend the Auburn Food Bank's annual Harvest Breakfast, a tradition that dates back many, many years.
This year The Auburn Food Bank's theme was "Be Our 12th Man" to honor all the players that come off the bench to support them and make them a better team. To thank the ones cheering them on and helping them win.
We were reminded that as a team we are all different. We have different skills, but we know the sum is greater than its parts. That alone we can do a little, but together we can be unstoppable and finish 2024 strong!
Unfortunately, donations this year have been down and they are trying to make a late game comeback and I was there to help them do that.
There are so many people that make this team great! From the food bank staff, the shelter staff, volunteers, board of directors, sponsors and all of us that have the means to donate to this organization that means so much to our community.
And all of this never happens without a great leader, their head coach -- the one who inspires us to work hard for each other, to roll up our sleeves and give it our all -- the Executive Director Debbie Christian. She is at the helm every day and her service does not go unnoticed.
If you are able, I encourage you to make a donation today.
The incredible duo of Merry-Christmas Seuseu and Fia Taito, co-owners of Arts of Love, are teaming up this weekend to bring an amazing new event to downtown Auburn -- the "You Matter" Youth Expo and Music Convention!
The first night will be held at the Postmark Center for the Arts, and the second at the Auburn Seventh Day Adventist Church after the Veterans Parade officially wraps up!
(From left: Miss Liahona Consultancy Teuila Alofipo, Keisha Taylor, Mayor Nancy Backus, Miss Samoa USA Joey Lealaitafea and Fia Taito)
These two amazing woman have worked tirelessly to make this event happen and they've got some treats in store. In addition to music, free food, art exhibits, a youth fashion shore and more, they're also hosting Miss Liahona Consultancy Teuila Alofipo and Miss Samoa USA Joey Lealaitafea!
For more information, please contact Merry Seuseu at (253) 376-8465 or via text only at (253) 682-8898 (secondary number).
###
Friday, Nov. 8 and Saturday, Nov. 9
7-10 p.m.
Friday: Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn. Ave.
Saturday: Auburn Seventh Day Adventist Church | 402 29th Street SE
Free
 I was pleased to read Monday that a new contract between The Boeing Company and the International Association of Machinists was signed, ending a weeks-long strike. I want to congratulate Boeing leadership and IAM District 751 President Jon Holden for their work to bring the 33,000 union members back to the jobs they love with improved wages and benefits and for knowing that Boeing is a significant economic engine in the Puget Sound.
Auburn’s aerospace manufacturing and the jobs that go with it help everyone in our city and throughout our state. I hope our workers can return to work building the next new airplane in Puget Sound!
(Click the photo to view the video)
Have you visited Zola's Cafe in downtown Auburn? If you have, you already know it's one of the coziest spots in the city to grab a coffee or enjoy a delicious gluten-free or vegan meal (or treat!). Of course, they have items for omnivores too.
Our Economic Development and Multimedia team have been hard at work shooting and developing more Auburn Business Spotlight videos and I hope you take a minute (literally!) to watch our spotlight on Zola's!
Owner Matthew Noesen took over Zola's right before the COVID-19 pandemic began, and he's been working hard to keep things familiar while still bringing in a new flair and flavors!
November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States, Washington and most especially, in Auburn. The contiguous United States and Alaska is home to 574 federally recognized tribes, and more than 200 unrecognized tribal organizations. Washington is home to 29 tribes, including our neighbors at the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.
The indigenous peoples of North America have woven rich and diverse threads into the tapestry of our nation's heritage, and throughout their long history on this great land, have faced moments of profound triumph and tragedy.
This month, we celebrate the ancestry and time-honored traditions of Native Americans. I proclaim November 2024 as Native American Heritage Month, and I urge our community to honor and recognize the important contributions that Native Americans have made in strengthening the diversity within our community!
We have a series of informational videos dropping weekly on Facebook that tells the history of Native Americans in our region. Check them out!
 Fall is a busy time of year for our storm drainage maintenance programs – leaves and debris removal in particular become a focal point and you can help!
- Clogged storm drains can cause flooding and other hazardous issues. Use a rake to clear leaves and debris from storm drains near your home or business so that rainwater can drain easily.
- Never attempt to remove a storm drain grate. If you cannot safely clean a storm drain without removing the storm drain grate, or if the water doesn’t drain after you have cleared the grate of leaves and other debris, please report it through our See Click Fix app, or call us at 253-931-3048 (6am to 3:30pm weekdays)
|
