Centralia Amatuer Radio Emergency Services to Compete in Ham Radio ‘Field Day’

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The Centralia Amatuer Radio Emergency Services (ARES) team will be participating in Amateur Radio Field Day, the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the United States and Canada, according to a news release. The event lasts from 11 a.m. Saturday, June 26, to 11 a.m. Sunday, June 27.

The Amateur Radio Relay League is the national association for Amateur Radio in the United States and Canada, representing over 170,000 Federal Communications Commission licensed amateurs. Amateur radio, often called “ham radio,” has been around for a century. Over that time, it has grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators who use the airwaves with every conceivable means of communication technology.

Amateur Radio Field Day is held on the fourth Saturday of June each year, and thousands of amateur radio operators gather with their clubs, groups or friends to operate from remote and abnormal locations. Groups compete to contact as many other stations as possible. In the competition, “hams” have the opportunity to practice the skills necessary to be an asset to their communities through amateur radio.



The Centralia ARES is a team of amateur radio operators who volunteer their time, expertise and equipment to provide back-up communications during emergency situations. Volunteers train to conduct urban and rural searches for lost or missing persons, as well as provide communications during community events such as parades and festivals.

For those interested in becoming an FCC licensed Amateur Radio operator or serving the community as a volunteer, check out the Centralia ARES website at K7CEM.com.