Christensens honored as parade grand marshals

A recipient of the Purple Heart and his wife will represent the town of Maple Valley as grand marshals of the Suring Labor Day parade. Dan and Alice Christensen will ride in the parade at 10 a.m. and receive the senior citizen award at noon Sept. 1. Alice was a volunteer with the USO in Richmond, Virginia, when she met Dan. The couple married after Dan’s return from Vietnam, where he had been assigned to the 240 Assault Helicopter Unit as door gunner and crew chief. He was wounded in a helicopter crash and was awarded the Purple Heart. He also received the Flight Medal with 21 Oak Leaf Clusters. Dan was born to Milton and Irene Christensen on March 29, 1943. As a kid, he enjoyed working on the farm and playing with his brothers and sister. He attended Hickory Grade School and graduated from Suring High School in 1962. Alice was born in the mountains at Fries, Virginia, to Harvey and Ethel Carrico on July 16, 1944. The family lived on a small farm, and Alice moved to Richmond after her high school graduation. The couple moved to Maple Valley after Dan’s discharge from the service. Alice worked at Woodland Village Nursing Home for 10 years and in home health care for another 15 years. She has been a Sunday school teacher and 4-H leader. Dan took over the family farm in 1976, and the family farmed until 1994 when Dan returned to truck driving. He purchased the Suring Mobile Home Park in 2011 and has upgraded the park to make it a safer family environment. He is employed by the town of Maple Valley to maintain the landfill, perform animal control and cut the grass on the road side. He also assists Suring with animal control and cuts grass for Spruce. Dan and Alice attend Maple Valley Community Church, and Alice enjoys singing at her church and sings at nursing homes, funerals and weddings. She also works with youth at the church and likes to decorate cakes. Dan enjoys fishing, especially trips with Bob Trevor and Russell Brock, and hunting. Dan and Alice enjoy spending time with their friends, their children and their grandchildren.