A Small
Town 4 of July th
The Rockets’ Red Glare: Celebrating Local Veterans
Backyard BBQ Recipes
A special interest publication of the YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC JULY 4, 2012 WWW.YAKIMAHERALD.COM
Patriotic Trifle Black Bean Salsa Lemongrass Beef Sates
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A Small Town 4th of July July 4, 2012 足 www.yakimaherald.com
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A message from the mayor
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The Fourth of July. It’s just a date on the calendar that comes around once a year. And like most holidays it has become somewhat commercialized. But I can’t imagine what it means to those who have fought and died for our freedom, our way of life. The Fourth of July is the day we gained our independence and created a new reality for the people of our nation. I think at times in America we don’t really appreciate how good we’ve got it, and getting together on the Fourth of July should remind us of just that. It is a time when our neighbors, our families and our friends can celebrate the history of our great nation. We need to take a journey back in time and weigh the magnitude of what was on the line and the courage that it took to achieve the freedom we now enjoy. We should remember how important the Declaration of Independence was — and how important it is to us now. We should teach our children our shared history, so they can understand at what cost our independence was won. So as we celebrate July 4 — whether at State Fair Park or in our own backyards — let’s put our differences aside. Let’s find camaraderie in being Americans. That we can believe what we want, and we can go where we want. And that we continue to be brought together by the history of this day. Happy Fourth of July, Yakima. — Micah Cawley
On the cover: Cami Leonard-Corbin prepares to grill some hot dogs in her backyard during a Fourth of July barbecue last year. PHOTO BY JENNIFER DAGDAGAN.
TODAY’S EVENTS...
Yakima 4th of july State Fair Park, Noon - 11 p.m. Fireworks at 10 p.m. Carnival rides, food vendors, beer garden, children’s activities. www.yakima4thofjuly.org Naches valley independence day festival 10 a.m. in downtown Naches. Activities and entertainment for all. Fireworks start about 9:45 p.m. www.nachesvalleychamber.com
PROSSER’S OLD-FASHIONED 4TH OF JULY 10 a.m. - 3p.m., fireworks at 10 p.m. Prosser City Park. Car show, concession stands, sack races, obstacle course, bingo. 509-786-3177
Stars & Stripes Breakfast. McGuire’s Irish Restaurant & Pub 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Hosted by Combat Veterans United. Proceeds will assist local veterans. Also collecting non-perishable food items for the Veteran’s Food Bank.
ZILLAH’S 4TH OF JULY Stewart Park. Family event with both professional and local fireworks. Show starts at sundown. 509-829-5151
CONCERTS IN THE PARK Randall Park in Yakima. Bring a picnic and hear music with a patriotic theme.
PIONEER DAYS CELEBRATION Downtown Cle Elum. Queen’s tea, Roslyn Riders family fun play day, heritage festival, street fair, tug of war contest, sidewalk barbecue. Events at different locations. 509-674-5958 or www.cleelumroslyn.org TOPPENISH parade 11 a.m. Downtown Toppenish
A Small Town 4th of July July 4, 2012 www.yakimaherald.com
LOCAL HEROES Text by Erick Peterson • Photo by George May
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Bryan Gerkin, Charles W. Perkins and Lupe Lopez — all members of Combat Veterans United — pose by some bikes at a recent “Hot Dogs & Harleys” event at Owen’s Cycle.
Rockets’ Red Glare
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Celebrating local veterans
A Small Town 4th of July July 4, 2012 www.yakimaherald.com
As with Americans around the country, today Yakima folks will be looking up at exploding bursts of fireworks, and our hearts will swell with patriotism. After all, it was the daring, sometimes liferisking efforts of our forefathers, ancestors and neighbors that made the United States a great nation. We remember our veterans. Yakima’s Bryan Gerkin of Combat Veterans United — an association of combat veterans who ride motorcycles as a hobby and focus on veteran outreach — says nowadays the public is much better at appreciating our military service members.
Gerkin, who’s 49 and served in the National Guard, describes war as “total chaos for 90 minutes and then 90 days of boredom.” As a veteran of the 1990s Persian Gulf War, Gerkin knows this experience; he’s seen war first hand and knows it can leave a lasting impact on a person’s psyche. Although many see battles on television and read about war in newspapers, much of the military experience is left out, Gerkin said, leaving the troubles endured by veterans unseen. Former soldiers are often quiet about their suffering, which is why Combat Veterans United and
other organizations encourage soldiers to talk about their experiences and get help if necessary. Some veterans have adjusted more easily, but still benefit from the companionship of those with similar experiences. Lupe Lopez is like that. Lopez, who now lives in Wapato, entered the Army National Guard in 1984 and the Navy in 1985. Shortly thereafter, he was stationed at Camp Pendleton with the Marine Corps as a Navy corpsman, trained to give medical aid. Lopez’s service included entering Kuwait City during the Persian Gulf War.
But he also took part in the military’s response to the Los Angeles riots of 1992. He describes the experience as being “different.” It’s the only time the enemy was made up of Americans, he said. Lopez suffered a severe fall from a rope bridge at Camp Pendleton, and was honorably discharged due to his injuries on Veterans Day in 1995. He became a physicians assistant after graduating from University of Washington’s medical school in 2001 and is now retired. Lopez, now 45, still feels the effects of that fall though. Instead of traditional therapy, he finds his own on a 2012 Harley Davidson Street Glide. Lopez said that he loves having the wind in his hair and his friends at his side, including Gerkin. He calls fellow motorcycle riders and veter-
ans his “brothers and sisters.” Yakima’s George Benedetti, 64, served his country too — first as a sailor in the Navy and later as a public school teacher. Despite his service, he says he was not always understood. “When I came back from Vietnam, I still remember going to a bar and seeing a friend that I went to school with,” Benedetti said. “He asked me what I was doing. I said I was in the Navy, and he said, ‘You’re a baby killer,’ and he got up and left.” This reaction was not uncommon for Vietnam vets, he said, since he knew of other veterans who put up with the similar abuse. The Vietnam war polarized a passionate public opinion. Benedetti said the Vietnam war for him was a blur. He served aboard the USS Kitty
Hawk aircraft carrier as a signalman, in charge of communicating visually with other ships using flags and lights. He was told that life expectancy would be very short for him if the ship was under attack, and that his station on the signal bridge would be the first hit by the enemy. “The thing is, though, we had a lot of protection – two destroyers, a cruiser, a battleship and all of our planes – so we didn’t have a whole lot to worry about in being attacked. We were 50 miles off the coast. If someone were to come after us, they’d have a lot of trouble getting to where they wanted to go,” he said. Every once and a while, he would hear of an enemy “MiG” fighter plane nearby, but he was never in much danger. In fact, he describes
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“ Nowadays the public is much better at appreciating our military service members”
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A Small Town 4th of July July 4, 2012 www.yakimaherald.com
sion when he was in a group of soldiers that was caught in a mortar attack. “The guy in front of me and the guy behind me got grilled, got shrapnel. They didn’t die, but they got hurt,” he said. Surprisingly, it was life stateside that was problematic. “I developed an attitude after my first tour. It was pretty loose over there. You got your job done, and people left you alone. When you come back, it’s not that way at all. So I had authority problems,” he said. So he volunteered for a second tour and returned to Vietnam. When he ultimately finished his military service, he returned to the United States to do odd jobs in Ellensburg. Then he went back to school on the GI Bill, studying at Central Washington University, where he obtained a degree in wildlife biology and then went to Alaska. Later, he returned to school and obtained a teaching certificate, and he began his career. Now a husband and a father of three kids, Hanna still teaches science at Eisenhower High School. But he doesn’t often talk about his military service, especially to his students. Many people wouldn’t understand, he said. His military and war experience was both good and bad — it was dangerous, but it also opened up his eyes to a much larger world. When Hanna joined the military, he did it to give himself direction. “I never looked at it as serving my country,” he said. But these days Hanna’s a proponent of service to others —whether through the military, or just through simple every day actions. “…I think there is a lot of honor in serving your country.”
Benedetti with a light he used to signal other ships on the USS Kitty Hawk. PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE BENEDETTI
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his job as “pretty nice,” since he had the opportunity to watch the activity of the planes on the carrier. He also enjoyed the chance to meet and befriend the pilots and other members of the crew, many of whom came from different parts of the country. He says his life during the war was a far cry from that of his cousin and others, whose experiences gave them nightmares that lasted years. Benedetti benefited from the GI Bill, he said, which funded his return to college. He also credits service with giving him the maturity to become a good student. He went to Shoreline Community College and later the University of Washington, where he graduated before starting what would be a 32-year teaching career. A husband and father of two, Benedetti retired from the West Valley school district in 2009. “It helped me out,” he said of the military. “I think it’s a good avenue for people who aren’t ready for school.” Marc Hanna, also an educator and a Vietnam veteran, said his service gave him a boost in life. Soon after his high school graduation in 1967 and his entry into junior college in Wenatchee, Hanna found himself unprepared for higher education. The death of his father in a car accident left him “floating,” he said. It was the military that put structure into his life, however, and it gave him purpose. He also seemed to have the right temperament for war. “I don’t remember it scaring me much at all,” said Hanna, who’s now in his early 60s. But there was danger. He said that there was one occa-
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Backyard Barbecues!
READER RECIPES
Text by Robin Salts Beckett • Photos by Jennifer Dagdagan
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• recipes from our readers •
A Small Town 4th of July July 4, 2012 www.yakimaherald.com
Back Row: Lanette Headley, Tony Andreas and Doug Headley • Front Row: Chrissy Andreas, Cami LeonardCorbin, Spencer the black lab and Cheri Daniels
12 BELOW: The vintage grill that Cami and Chris use during their outdoor parties and barbecues. RIGHT: Chris shares some laughs with Tony Andreas while shaking up some Fourth of July strawberry margaritas.
IN THE GARDEN!
Shuttlebus ervice ! e e r S F to Fairgrounds for
4th of July Celebration! Yakima Transit Shuttlebuses will be operating from 2 Park & Ride Lots – Gateway Center (in front of Target near Fair Ave.) Eisenhower High School (on Arlington) 3:30pm-9:30pm & 10:30pm-11:30pm A Small Town 4th of July July 4, 2012
Call 575-6175 more information Great Plants … Great Gifts …
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Loo-Wit GARDENS
5641 Summitview • Yakima • (509) 966-7010
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CAMI’s Lemongrass Beef Sates
Backyard Barbecues are warming up all over the Valley today. You’re likely heading outdoors to one yourself, since according to the US Census Bureau, 81 million people attended barbecues in 2010. Surely many of those were on the Fourth of July. Cami Leonard-Corbin and her husband, Chris Corbin, know a lot about this favorite American pastime. “I’d rather be outside than inside,” said Leonard-Corbin, who hosted an Independence Day party on her backyard patio last year. “I love to do smoked pork ribs, lots of steaks,” she said. For this party, they pulled out a vintage outdoor grill, a gift from Leonard-Corbin’s sister. Then all they needed were good food, good drinks and good friends. Here are recipes from Leonard-Corbin and our readers that you can make today and all summer long. Happy Fourth of July!
Ingredients: 2 to 3 stalks lemongrass, trimmed & chopped (leaves reserved) • 3 cloves garlic, chopped • 1 to 3 Thai chiles or jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped • 1/4 C cilantro, chopped • 3 T brown sugar • 2 teas. ground coriander • 1/2 C fish sauce or soy sauce • 1/4 C lime juice • 4 T vegetable oil • 1.5 lbs. flank steak • chopped peanuts and cilantro for serving Directions: Mix lemongrass, garlic, chiles, cilantro and brown sugar in a food processor. Add coriander, fish sauce, lime juice and oil. Blend well. Slice steak into long and thin strips, then thread them onto skewers. Put them in a shallow dish and cover with marinade. Let sit for 30 minutes, but make sure to turn them halfway through. Grill directly on high, basting with reserved marinade, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Garnish with peanuts and cilantro if desired.
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READER RECIPES
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Photos by Robin Salts Beckett
Patriotic Trifle Courtesy of Juli Abhold Serves 6 to 8 Ingredients 1 prepared white sheet cake 1 large package instant vanilla pudding 1 large container of Cool Whip 1 pint fresh blueberries 1 quart fresh strawberries (sliced) Directions After cake is cooled, cut into 1-inch squares and arrange a layer in trifle bowl. Follow with even layers of Cool Whip and pudding. Place sliced strawberries and blueberries along the sides of the bowl so they show through nicely. Repeat layers.... Top with strawberries, blueberries and cake crumbs (there’ll be some left in pan). Refrigerate.
Savannah’s Black Bean Salsa By Savannah Tranchell, Appetite blogger This salsa is chunky, super tangy and incredibly versatile. It is just heaven with super salty tortilla chips or, better yet, Fritos Scoops. But if you liked the flavor, you could also plop it on top of your burger or hot dog instead of other condiments. I normally don’t endorse a particular brand for foods, but after much scientific trial-and-error, these two Italian dressings really rise to the top for flavor in this dip.
A Small Town 4th of July July 4, 2012 www.yakimaherald.com
Ingredients 3 (15 oz.) cans no-salt black beans, drained and rinsed 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 cups Paul Newman’s Light Italian dressing or Kraft House Italian dressing 1 (4 oz.) jar diced pimientos 1 cup thinly sliced green onions 1 medium tomato, chopped 1 medium green pepper, chopped 1 T. Morton’s Nature’s Seasoning 1/2 to 1 tsp. Tabasco sauce 1 T. Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp. pepper 1 tsp. oregano or Italian seasoning 3 garlic cloves, minced Combine all ingredients; mix well. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours to allow flavors to blend.
For more Appetite recipes, visit the blog at www.yakimaherald.com/blogs/appetite
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This hospital is owned or invested in by physicians. 27.201684.FJT.N
Join us! FREE Kids Activities • Allied Arts Van 12:00-7:00pm Sponsored by Zirkle Fruit • KXDD traditional family fun from 12:00-6:00pm • balloon toss • 3 legged race • sack race
FREE Bus Service
3:30pm-11:30pm • Eisenhower H.S. Parking Lot (on 40th Ave.) • Gateway Center (near Target)
KATS Beer Garden! From 12:00-10:00pm
Carnival and fair food all day!
HUGE
FIREWORKS SHOW 10 pm
Danny Austin Band
Join us on these radio stations to enjoy our 4th of July music program: • 105.7 Bob FM • 100.9 Cherry FM • 92.9 The Bull • 107.3 KFFM
History for Sale
Josh Wilson
FOURTH OF JULY FREE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AT STATE FAIR PARK 8:00AM 12:00-1:00PM 1:30-2:30PM 3:00-4:00PM 4:15-5:00PM
Grounds Open The Praise Band Colgate Country Showdown Sponsored by: 92.9 The Bull Power Line Cherry FM Pie Eating Contest & Apple Bobbing
5:30-6:30PM 7:00-8:00PM 8:30-9:30PM 9:45PM 10:00PM 11:00PM
History For Sale Positive Life Radio presents: Josh Wilson Danny Austin Band National Anthem Fireworks Fair Grounds Closed
Presented by:
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