On September 11th, a few of us were privileged to attend the 2026 Central Washington Cancer Heroes Ceremony to honor our local heroes, including a dear friend of the VFW, Becky Cummins. Becky is the manager of Chapel of the Valley in East Wenatchee where she’s been very involved with supporting veterans and their families with donations to programs that benefit these heroes.

Our relationship with Becky started in the spring of 2024 when she volunteered to help pay for the costs of bringing the Washington Fallen Heroes Banners here to Wenatchee for the Apple Blossom Grand Parade. Her generous donation from the business allowed us to sponsor 2 Gold Star families to travel to the parade to carry their loved one’s banner. It helped pay for 2 nights lodging and gas money to help them get here and back home. She has seen that this donation has been given for the last 3 years. It has directly supported this important effort to bring these families to Wenatchee and allowed them to honor their Heroes in a tribute during the Apple Blossom parade.

Becky is now in a fight for her life. Diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer this year, she has continued her mission of uplifting others, thriving over the past 23 years as a mother, spouse, and steadfast community member. Known for her calm demeanor, humor, and signature “banjo jokes” that brighten the oncology clinic, she faces ongoing treatments with a spirit of complete peace. Behind the scenes, Becky has spent nearly a decade secretly crafting and donating handmade care packages – complete with crocheted hats and afghans for infusion patients in Moses Lake.

My wife Kim and I, along with Steve & Dee Johnson, attended this celebration to support Becky and her family during this special occasion. Not only to honor her service to this community, but especially for her deep care of veterans and their family’s service and sacrifice to our nation’s cause. Keep on fighting Becky, we’ve got your back!