KEIZER, Ore. — The Keizer Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Committee will host a dedication ceremony honoring Gold Star Families on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m. at PFC Ryan J. Hill Memorial Park, located along Keizer Station Boulevard.
In partnership with the City of Keizer and the Keizer Rotary Satellite Club, the ceremony will formally dedicate the Keizer Gold Star Families Memorial Monument which honors the families of fallen service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States. Keizer’s monument is recognized as Oregon’s first Woody Williams Foundation Gold Star Families Memorial.
“This distinct granite memorial stands as a lasting tribute not only to those who gave their lives in defense of our nation, but also to the families who carry their legacy forward,” said Matt Lawyer, a co-organizer and US Navy veteran. “Keizer is honored to be home to Oregon’s first memorial of this kind.”
Army Private 1st Class Hill was Keizer’s first resident killed in action in Iraq on Jan. 20, 2007.
A Medal of Honor recipient, Williams was a WWII veteran who served in the South Pacific. Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments, supported by the Woody Williams Foundation, are designed to serve as permanent places of remembrance, reflection, and education, recognizing the profound sacrifice borne by families who have lost a loved one in military service.
The dedication ceremony is open to the public and will include remarks from community leaders, local veterans, the Oregon National Guard, and representatives involved in bringing the project to completion. A reception will follow at Keizer City Hall, 930 Chemawa Road, N.
Community members, veterans, and Gold Star families from across the region are encouraged to attend and participate in this moment of remembrance, gratitude and salute to the fallen. For additional information or to RSVP, email: keizer.goldstar@gmail.com or call, 442-777-3544.
