Valley lends slow, steady salute on Memorial Day

Photo by BOB WILLIAMS / THE CHRONICLE. Frank Blair, left, and Troy Olsen salute at the Veterans Plaza on Monday. Blair is a two-time Purple Heart recipient who has been a longtime commander of the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans local chapter. Olsen is a Marine combat veteran who served in the Gulf War with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, in both Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Olsen led the Battlefield Cross display, which was presented by the Willamette Leadership Academy.

Nine hundred sixty-eight in World War I.

Three thousand, seven hundred fifty-seven in World War II.

Two hundred and sixty-nine in the Korean War.

Seven hundred and nine in Vietnam.

Six in Desert Storm.

Sixty-nine in Iraq. 

Seventy-four in Afghanistan. 

During Monday’s Memorial Day Celebration at the Springfield Veterans Plaza, veteran Troy Olsen read aloud the death toll of Oregonians who have lost their lives amid military conflict since WWI began. 

Five thousand eight hundred…

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