events

Shriners’ Convention in Wenatchee

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Shriners parade july 2025 parked

The Pacific Northwest Shriners Association held it’s summer convention at the Wenatchee Coast Center Hotel this weekend. Events included training opportunities, the President’s Banquet, shopping and prizes at downtown shops, and a short parade through downtown Wenatchee.

The Wenatchee Valley VFW was honored to act as the dignitary vehicle carrying the Shriners International Association Legion of Honor (IALOH) Commander, Wayne Steele, from Tennesee. Colonel Steele served 43 years active duty in the USMC, retiring in 2013.

A group of four Clowns pose with VFW Post 3617 Commander Pieratt (center) in front of the jeep.
Commander Pieratt in the driver seat of Annabelle, with wife Kim and Shriners IALOH Commander Steele as passengers at the parade lineup.
Shriners IALOH Commander Steele in the back seat of our Shore Patrol jeep, with the flags of various countries being carried behind.
Annabelle leads the Shriners parade in downtown Wenatchee on 19 July 2025; Photo by Loren Benoit of the Wenatchee World

More photos on the Wenatchee World website.

About Shriners and IALOH

Shriners International started with a group of individuals who came together in the spirit of fun and fellowship, laying the foundation for a worldwide fraternity and establishing a globally recognized pediatric specialty health care system. Their website states: “Shriners International is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth.” Additionally, the “fraternity established Shriners Children’s as its official philanthropy in 1922 and continues to support it today. It is now one of the largest pediatric sub-specialty healthcare systems in the world, with locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico.”

Many Shrine Temples have a uniformed unit called the Legion of Honor. Legion of Honor members are Shriners who have served or are still serving in the Armed Forces of our countries: honorably discharged or retired, volunteer or draftee, officer or enlisted.