SPOKANE, Wash. – As Veterans Day is observed, local retired service members share their stories and encourage community involvement.
Ryan Finnegan, a retired Marine, reflects on his unexpected journey into the armed forces. Initially uninterested in enlisting, Finnegan joined the Marine Corps after deciding college wasn’t for him. He served from 1995 to 2002 and later worked with various military branches, focusing on protecting people, property, and information.
Finnegan emphasizes the importance of supporting veterans, who often hesitate to ask for help. He encourages the community to get involved with veteran organizations.
“Can I spend an hour a month helping… helping our veteran community… helping those organizations who are helping our veterans, whether it’s feeding them, getting them out off homelessness,” Finnegan said.
Another veteran, Pat Payne, a Vietnam veteran awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, focuses on public support for veterans. Payne urges people to educate themselves about the armed forces and attend Veterans Day events.
“Listen to their stories… Veterans can feel very isolated… so make sure they know they are not alone,” Payne said. He advises thanking veterans for their service and offering them support.
“It’s so important to them to have that feeling that somebody cares about what they did and respects it,” Payne stated.
The community is invited to attend the Veterans Day ceremony at 10:00 a.m. in the Elysian Room at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
