Farmers’ Market celebrates Veteran and Troop Appreciation Day

The Maple Valley Farmers' Market theme for Saturday, Aug. 29, is Veteran and Troop Appreciation Day. The Market will open for business at the usual 9 a.m. opening bell, and a special ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. with a flag presentation by the Maple Valley/Black Diamond VFW Post 5052. Retired Gen. Chuck Hardaway will serve as emcee and speaker. Mary Ricci will sing the National Anthem.

August 24, 2009 1:51 am
It was Kids Day at the Farmers Market Saturday.
It was Kids Day at the Farmers Market Saturday.

The Maple Valley Farmers’ Market theme for Saturday, Aug. 29, is Veteran and Troop Appreciation Day. The Market will open for business at the usual 9 a.m. opening bell, and a special ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. with a flag presentation by the Maple Valley/Black Diamond VFW Post 5052. Retired Gen. Chuck Hardaway will serve as emcee and speaker. Mary Ricci will sing the National Anthem.

In addition, the “Maple Valley Wall of Honor,” a tribute to veterans and soldiers from the Maple Valley region, will be on display. Local veterans and soldiers can submit their names and branches of service if not already included.

The weekly nonprofit booth will be staffed by Maple Valley Historical Society, highlighting local veterans and selling the book Uncle Sam Wants You by local author Barbara Nilsen. Her book honors veterans who attended Tahoma School District.

The Christian Friends of Troops group will be collecting donations for their ongoing soldier care packages project, and Tahoma Co-op Little Gems Preschool will host the children’s activity center, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Children can create hand-crafted cards and drawings to send American soldiers. Prudential Meridian Valley Realty will also host an informational booth.

Entertainment will be provided by Jim Hanna and Ryegrass, a local bluegrass band with five members. Playing new and traditional tunes, the group will also perform at Fall City Farms and the Redmond Farmers Market later this season.

Each week, over thirty vendors sell fresh local fruit and vegetables, nursery plants, fresh flowers, eggs, honey, biscotti, peach desserts, oysters and clams, coffee, Kettle Corn, emu and lavender products, wine, soil tea, and artisan creations ranging from jewelry to wood products to pincushions. A new feature of the market is the bakery bread offered by Gageby Farms, with special varieties including rye, jalapeno-cheese bread, and sourdough varieties, among others. A full list of all Market vendors is available at www.maplevalleyfarmersmarket.org.

The Market is open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. each Saturday at Rock Creek Elementary through Oct. 10.