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Citizen North Coast
Headlight Herald
VOL. 47, ISSUE 11
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MAY 26, 2023
CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM
Cannon Beach Veterans to be Honored on Memorial Day By DEB ATIYEH
O
n Monday May 29th, Memorial Day, the “Veteran’s Bridge Ceremony” will take place as it has for many years. Please join Cannon Beach Post 168 and the Sons of American Legion and Auxiliary, military veterans, residents and members of Brigadier General James Thayer’s family in a memorial ceremony at 11:00
AM, on the bridge next to the old grade school at the north end of town, to honor veterans and our loved ones who have passed. The Cannon Beach Police Department will close the bridge to traffic as the flag bearers lead a procession onto the bridge. The Commander of the American Legion will make a few brief remarks, followed by the playing of taps accompanied by prayers. Participants will then
drop fresh flowers into Ecola Creek in honor of the fallen and the loss of loved ones. Many describe this annual event as very moving and emotional. The American Legion is the largest military veterans organization in the country, with nearly 15,000 local posts and over 3 million members who care about America, veterans, their families and our nations youth. The goal of
every veteran is to keep Memorial Day sacred; to remember and honor the sacrifice of the members of our military. The American Legion has a long and important history of cooperation with the City of Cannon Beach. In 1980 they donated wetland property near Les Shirley Park to the City of Cannon Beach. They continue to be active in the community by hosting many events
throughout the year. Everyone is welcome to attend the Memorial Day ceremony taking place at 11:00 AM, Monday May 29th on the bridge over Ecola Creek, next to Necus’ Park and the old grade school at the north end of town. Bring a fresh flower and together we will honor those we have lost and still hold dear in our hearts. Never to be forgotten...
Memorial Day Veterans Bridge Ceremony in Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach Remembers Brigadier General James B. Thayer By DEB ATIYEH
J
ames Thayer’s connection to Cannon Beach goes back to the 1920’s, where he spent time visiting with his parents while growing up in the Carlton area of the northern Willamette Valley. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, James and his wife Patricia spent their honeymoon at the Waves Cottages in 1954. The Thayer family vacationed in Cannon Beach for many years, staying at the Waves, Webb’s Cottages and Surfview (site of present day Hallmark) In the mid-1990’s, the Thayers purchased a home on Ocean Avenue; spending time with family and friends, and enjoying the area. The entire family has many fond memories of Cannon Beach, and it has always been a special place they loved deeply; with three of his four sons still owning homes here. James Thayer was born in Portland, Oregon in March 1922. He is a descendant of Sylvanus Thayer, the “Father of West Point.” His parents divorced when James was four, and he was raised by his grandparents on their farm in Carlton. Graduating from Carlton High School in 1940, he attended the University of Oregon on a journalism scholarship. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 changed the direction of his life. Thayer left college at the end of his sophomore year and enlisted in the Army in 1942. He was selected for Officer Candidate School and trained as a mine platoon leader at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was commissioned as a second lieuten-
ant in October 1944, and assigned to and liberated the Gunskirchen Lager prisoners from starvation. Thayer a front line anti-tank company in the concentration camp, which was part said later that we were “just lucky 71st Infantry Division, which was of the Mauthausen-Gusen concento find them.” The discovery of the operating in Normandy, France. tration camp complex. They saved camp and what he witnessed stayed approximately 15,000 Hungarian As a mine platoon commander, with him for years. Almost half a Jews and several hundred political Thayer led his unit across France century passed before he began to and into Germany, find peace with clearing minefields what he had experialong the Magienced. not Line. He was A study conthen reassigned as ducted by the a reconnaissance “Conference on platoon leader. In Jewish Mateearly 1945, his rial Claims Against platoon engaged Germany” reported German SS troops that 41 percent of occupying a small Americans, and 66 Austrian town. percent of millenDuring the ensuing nials, don’t know battle, 31 German about the Auschwitz soldiers were killed, concentration camp and when reinforcewhere more than ments from his bata million Jews talion arrived, 800 and others were German soldiers executed. Over 6 ABOVE: General James Thayer honored as the Grand surrendered. Thayer million people were Marshall in the Cannon Beach 4th of July parade for many killed during the was later awarded a years / BELOW: General James Thayer at 4 years old in 1926 Holocaust, and the Silver Star. Thayer later said monstrous and evil that “my main mocrimes committed tive wasn’t to kill against humanity other people; it was are something that to save my soldiers should never be from being killed.” forgotten. In May 1945, Thayer earned Thayer’s platoon a Bronze star for was hunting for heroism during the German ammuwar, and continnition dumps in ued his military Austria. While on a service in the Army remote forest road, Reserve after the his platoon began to war, eventually find dead, dying and retiring as a colonel emaciated people. in 1982. They discovered Thayer returned
to the University of Oregon, graduating in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science in economics. In 1954 he married Patricia Cunningham and together they raised 5 children. A year after getting married, he started a successful office supply business in Beaverton, Oregon named J. Thayer Company. In 1989, Thayer was appointed Oregon’s civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army, and 1991 he was inducted into the Infantry Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia. A year later, he represented the Secretary of Defense at a World War II Commemoration ceremony held by the Austrian Government, where he was personally recognized for his role in liberating the Gunskirchen Lager Concentration Camp. After leaving that position in 1994, he was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service. In 2000, Thayer was re-activated into military service, promoted to Brigadier General, and assigned as a commander of the Oregon State Defense Force, later named the Oregon Civil Defense Force. James Thayer died at the age of 96 in September 2018; after a distinguished life of military service, a successful business career, and a civic leader, who helped raise 5 successful children that loved him dearly. He was instrumental in saving the lives of 15,000 men, women, and children during World War II. Even after a lifetime of awards and achievements, James Thayer was modest; insisting that he hadn’t SEE THAYER PAGE A5