KENNEWICK, Wash. – Kennewick’s Historic Waterfront District received some holiday flair on Friday as the Port of Kennewick prepares the district for Christmas.
The Port added thousands of twinkling lights to trees along Clover Island Drive and by the Clover Island Lighthouse.
And in honor of veterans, an 85.5-foot-tall pine tree adjacent to Clover Island was decorated with red, white and blue lights. This Veterans’ Christmas Tree is created every year to honor men and women who serve the United States in military service.
The Veteran’s Christmas Tree and other Clover Island lights will stay in place for viewing through New Year’s Day.
Tana Bader Inglima, the deputy CEO for the Port of Kennewick said the idea came from the Port’s CEO Tim Arntzen.
“He saw the tree,” said Bader Inglima. “He recognized how beautiful it would be if it was lit and he understands the importance of the vets to this community. We made a conscious effort to light the tree not just with random Christmas colors, but red, white and blue in honor of all the men and women who served in our military.”
Air Force veteran Chris Littrell served six years and said having a community who is willing to honor veterans serving or have served will help encourage future vets.
“It plants the seed in young people’s minds of wanting to follow in those footsteps and serve,” said Littrell. “It means a lot and the significance of it for me, speaking for myself as a veteran, is remembering and celebrating the collective service that we have done as a group of veterans.”
