Politics & Government

Gig Harbor to Honor Orion Sparks This Weekend

The 29-year-old staff sergeant, who graduated from Peninusla High School, was killed while serving in Afghanistan in September.

The Gig Harbor community will be honoring Staff Sgt. Orion Sparks this weekend.

Sparks, who graduated from Peninsula High School, was .

According to the City of Gig Harbor website, Mayor Chuck Hunter has directed that flags at Jerisich Park and the Civic Center be lowered to half-staff this weekend, starting on Friday, Oct. 12.

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Sparks’ classmates have organized a memorial, which is set for Sunday, Oct. 14, at The Tides Tavern.

They will also be collecting donations to start a scholarship notebook in honor of Sparks. The public is invited to attend the event at 6 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Gig Harborwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sparks was born in Tacoma and attended Purdy Elementary, Harbor Ridge Middle School and finally Peninsula High, where he ran track, wrestled and played football. 

After graduation, he moved to Tucson, AZ where he joined the Army.

His burial is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 13. Sparks was 29.


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