I happened to click on Facebook and saw the Time of Remembrance video we made to introduce Time of Remembrance for our Gold Star families of the Pacific Northwest. It was like taking a long walk down memory lane. Viewing for the first time in several years, it was the first video made by Jamie Schell, which the committee of Time of Remembrance used several times to introduce our program to honor our fallen heroes from the Iraq/Afghanistan Wars since 2003. WE, the USA. We were losing so many of our young soldiers, and no one to assist the Gold Star Families. At that time, one was involved in doing what they could to send care packages, family support, etc., which goes with war and the death of our military soldiers. I lost my son in 2004 and found myself so alone, trying to deal with his death. And then, about two years later, I had a dream of bringing the Gold Star Families together to help each other. At that time, I was a member of "America Citizens Encouraging Support". I told them what I wanted to do, and they guided me in a new direction. There were so many who were loyal and helped me get started. We started with the 501c3 tax information, etc., all was going, going, and going. This was when I met May Hays from West Richland. It took me some time to realize what a hardworking, good person she was to have on your side. May asked what she could do to help, and I asked if she could help me with our Sunday event. On Sunday, there was a Public Ceremony to be held at Flat Top Park in West Richland.
Sunday morning was very ifffffy. It had been raining so hard all night long. Phone calls were being made. "What if's" were asked and questioned. May called and told me not to worry. She had made several calls and found a church that would help us out if we needed to get out of the rain. The Radio station started calling very early Sunday morning to find out about the Park Ceremony. It was decided about 2 hours before the start of the ceremony that we would go ahead with our original plans and meet at Flat Top Park in West Richland. When I arrived, May Hays had all the chairs set up, along with the podium and microphone. We just had to keep the chairs dry the best that we could. May Hays had everything under control at the park, kept the bikers in toll, chairs up, coffee on, and donuts ready to be served to the helpers. All 30+ helpers were so excited to be there with us. The ladies who sang the opening songs were as crisp as the air was that morning. They were from my hometown, Warden, WA. The guest speakers were excellent and spoke with positivity in their voices. And the final touch was when the cows from across the park came. They started lining up and watching the audience and the activities that were taking place on that wonderful Sunday. May Hays took the wet Sunday situation and turned it all into magic from God.
But that was not the only time that May shone for Time of Remembrance. In September 2020, COVID hit the Tri-Cities, and we were told "No Time of Remembrance" this year. May Hays came to my rescue and said let's make it happen, but on a smaller scale. We had very special guest speakers come to Flat Top Park. May Hays set up the 200 chairs in the park, each chair with a white color coverlet and red sheath, a Fallen Hero Banner placed between every 2-3 chairs. It was Beautiful. Holding American Flags, several Bikers rode into the park double file and parked their bikes in a uniform line. We could only have around 20 people in the park at one time, but it didn't work that way on that day. There were six Gold Star parents from Western Washington and one from Eastern Washington, one Gold Star Family from Oregon; and George Lutz, Gold Star Father and founder of Honor & Remember Flag, Inc., from Chesapeake, VA.; two Gold Star Mothers from Western Idaho, Speakers Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Four-Star General James Mattis, and Tim Adams who is a broadcast meteorologist for KNDU/KNDO-TV. After speeches delivered at Flat Top Park, we went to the Regional Veterans Memorial in Kennewick. Vickie Bowles Evans presented TAPS with her Trumpet. May Hays had a wonderful idea, and we, together, made it happen.
In 2021, I was asked if I could help get a Veterans Cemetery in Eastern Washington. I introduced Director Rudy Lopez, WDVA, to May Hays. Together, we have taken this request forward and have qualified to be put on the list with Veterans Affairs. I have learned that May is a blend of critical thinking. She has strong research skills and is extremely effective with communication, persuasive rhetoric, and social skills. When May has an idea that needs debating, then she takes time to listen, research, and question to understand. West Richland needs a great debater who will listen to different situations and ideas.
Over the years of knowing May as I worked with her in Time of Remembrance, I learned that she can be very persuasive and uses her skills in critical thinking and effective communication to obtain a desired outcome. With over twenty years of working with the city of West Richland, what more could you ask for, for the knowledge that she has learned about her Community and the families and businesses that have helped build West Richland from a small town to the city that it is becoming.
Most Sincerely,
Shirley Schmunk
