Celebrate Freedom Events & Programs

Friday, June 14, 2013  •  3:30 p.m. 

Free Event, Open to the Public

At the Bandstand on the Fort Vancouver Parade Ground

Flag Day at Fort Vancouver presented by Veolia Water is the only Flag Day celebration in Clark County. The Trust began producing Flag Day as one of its Celebrate Freedom programs in 2001, emphasizing the importance of citizenship throughout our community. The celebration is held at 3:30 p.m., so that the program may coincide with the Annual National Pause for the Pledge of Allegiance, in which people all over the country pause and recite the Pledge of Allegiance in unison.

An important component to the event is student engagement. Though Flag Day takes place at the very end of the school year, students have been able to participate in the event through essay contests and more recently historical reenactments, music and history quizzes (versus the Clark County Mayors). Through the recent development of the Clark County Mayors’ Patriotic Tie Competition, Mayors from Clark County cities participate and bring supporters from their cities to attend the event. In 2012, all but two cities/townships in Clark County were represented in the competition.

The average attendance for Flag Day is 350-500 (weather depending)

General George C. Marshall Lecture Series presents Secretary Robert Gates

Thursday, April 11, 2013
Free Event, Open to the Public • 11 a.m.

Hudson's Bay High School
1206 E. Reserve Street, Vancouver, WA

Secretary Gates joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1966 and spent nearly 27 years as an intelligence professional. During that period, he spent nearly nine years at the National Security Council, The White House, serving four presidents of both political parties. Gates served as director of Central Intelligence from 1991 until 1993. He is the only career officer in CIA's history to rise from entry-level employee to director. He served as deputy director of Central Intelligence from 1986 until 1989 and as assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Adviser at the White House from January 20, 1989, until November 6, 1991, for President George H.W. Bush.

Secretary Gates is the only Secretary of Defense in U.S. history to be asked to remain in that office by a newly-elected President. President Barack Obama is the eighth president Gates has served. He previously served under President George W. Bush. On Gates' last day in office, President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor.

Additionally, Gates has been awarded the National Security Medal, the Presidential Citizens Medal, has three times received the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, and has three times received CIA's highest award, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal.

The Marshall Lecture is the cornerstone event of Celebrate Freedom, a program of the Fort Vancouver National Trust, in partnership with the City of Vancouver. The Marshall Lecture honors the character and principles of General George C. Marshall, who served at Vancouver Barracks as Commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade from 1936 to 1938. During his tenure as Commander, General Marshall hosted the ANT-25 flyers upon their arrival at the Army Air Corps field.

This lecture was sponsored by