A Veterans Recognition Motorcycle Ride is scheduled to roll through downtown Kent at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 31 at 10:30 a.m. en route to the Veterans Drive naming ceremony at the intersection of South 231st Way and Russell Road.
Multiple motorcycle clubs were invited to participate as numerous club riders are veterans themselves, according to a city of Kent media release.
Escorted by Kent Police, the ride will begin at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Willis Street; proceed north on Fourth Avenue, then west at South 228th Street. The group will also be the first to travel over the newly named Veterans Drive at the end of the naming ceremony at 12:30 p.m.
To show support for veterans, residents and businesses along the route are encouraged to wave and cheer the riders on as they ride by. The Veterans Drive naming ceremony is open to the public and starts at 11 a.m.
The Kent Elementary First Grade Singers will greet event attendees with music before the start of the ceremony at 11 a.m.
Ceremony highlights include:
• National Anthem, performed by Petty Officer Sarah Reasner, U.S. Navy Band Northwest
• Representative Adam Smith, U.S. Congressman, 9th District
• Tim Peters, Vice President and General Manager of Mobility, surveillance and Engagement, Boeing Military Aircraft
• Col. Hugh Bair, Commander, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, JBLM
• Cmdr. Chris Sutherland, Executive Officer, Navy Recruiting District Seattle
• Rifle Salute by Veterans of Foreign Wars, Kent Meridian Post 6785
• Unveiling of new Veterans Drive street signs
• Performance by Kentwood High School JROTC Drill Team
• Motorcycle and military vehicle procession
South 231st Way will be renamed Veterans Drive where it intersects at Russell Road and continue west over the Colonel Joe M. Jackson Bridge and ends at Military Road.
According to Mayor Suzette Cooke, Military Road opened up supply lines between military forts when it was first completed in 1860, making it one of the oldest roads in Washington.
“Now it will be appropriately connected with a bridge dedicated to local World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Joe M. Jackson,” Cooke said.
The city dedicated the new bridge to Jackson when it was completed in 2006. Jackson is being escorted in the Veterans Recognition Ride to attend the ceremony.
South 228th Street to Military Road will be closed between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for the event. Parking attendants will provide traffic direction and parking assistance for event attendees on Russell Road. People are encouraged to carpool.
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