National Parks Service designates Pendleton Oregon, an American World War II Heritage City
Washington - The National Parks Service announced the designation October 16, 2026. recognizing the community's extraordinary contributions to World War II home front to preserving that history. 
Pendleton's contributions include the 17th Bomb Unit and it's squadron's of B25B North American Mitchell Bombers, who became the Doolittle Raiders; and the Legacy they left, the B17 Bomber for activation and readiness training, the 330th maintenance group maintaining the B29's and the 555th paratrooper group known as the Triple Nickel that pioneered techniques in Smoke jumping in Operaton Firefly working with the US Forest Service in response to the Japanese Balloon Bombs and so much.
Today Pendleton continues to share the History and the legacy of  Eastern Oregon through the Pendleton Air & Military Museum Remembrance Doolittle Dinner an Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social, wayside exhibits, Commemoration on Veterans Day and sharing with local youths. 
The American World War II Heritage City Program - 
Administered by the National Park Service, the law was signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in March 2019 as part of the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, management, and Recreation Act (S.47) in order to recognize and ensure the continued preservation and importance of saving and sharing the history of the United States. 
The program authorize the Secretary of the Interior to bestow this honorary designation on only one city or local jurisdiction in each state or territory. 

       
Congratulations Pendleton, "History Lives when we share" 
The Pendleton Air & Military Museum is committed to
       "Preserving History for Generations to Come"