Under U.S. flags waving in the wind, band music, speeches and moments of silence, today will honor the men and woman who have died in our nation’s armed services.
Port Angeles
• Memorial Day remembrances will begin in Port Angeles with a 9:30 a.m. service today at the Veterans Circle in Mount Angeles Memorial Park, 45 S. Monroe Road.
The service will be hosted by VFW Post 1024 and its ladies auxiliary.
The ceremony will move at 10:30 a.m. to the Port Angeles Veterans Center, 261 S. Francis St., for a program hosted by Disabled American Veterans Chapter 9.
The group will talk about “what Memorial Day really means,” said Karen Key, program organizer.
Coffee and dessert will be available.
For more information, phone 360-417-2630 or 360-681-7085.
• The Lower Elwha Klallam tribe plans to remember those who died in the military during a service at 10:30 a.m. at the tribe’s casino — on Stratton Road south of the tribal center, which is west of Port Angeles — followed by a visit to the tribal cemetery to pay respects, said Juan Macias, coordinator with the American Legion.
Later this evening, the American Legion will gather at the Port Angeles Veterans Center to give veterans information on benefits.
Sequim
• A bagpiper will perform before and after an 11 a.m. service at Sequim View Cemetery 1505 Sequim-Dungeness Way.
The Sequim VFW and the American Legion are hosting the program, said Jennifer Melberg, manager of Sequim Valley Chapel.
It will be a short service in honor of all military men and woman who have lost their lives, she said.
• Sequim Sunrise Rotary Club has placed eight U.S. flags on Alder, Spruce and Fir streets east of Brown Road.
They will be on display today during daylight hours.
“The club hopes to sell subscriptions whereby a resident will have a U.S. flag put in front of his or her home five times a year, on patriotic holidays,” said Jim Pickett of the Rotary Club.
For more information about the project, phone club members at 360-683-1058 or 360-681-4843, or see the club’s Web site at www.sequimsunriserotary.org.
Port Townsend
• Port Townsend’s Memorial Day ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. when the Port Townsend American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 7498 and Elks Lodge members gather at the Fort Worden Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony.
From there, the group will go at 10:30 a.m. to Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery on San Juan Avenue and then to the Laurel Grove Cemetery on Discovery Road at 11 a.m. to lay wreaths on the graves of veterans.
American Legion Commander Joe Carey said the ceremony will officially start at 12 p.m. with a call to order and presenting of the colors at the Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26 Legion Hall at 209 Monroe St.
Bands will begin to play at 11:30 a.m.
Port Townsend Mayor Michelle Sandoval will speak at noon.
At 1 p.m., the ceremony will move to the dock behind Pope Marine Park where a ceremonial wreath will be tossed into the Port Townsend Bay.
A prayer ceremony will be held.
“The day is to honor all of our veterans, both current past and those serving right now,” Carey said.
“But Memorial Day is especially about those who have passed.”
Food donations sought
In addition to the ceremonies, visitor to Mount Angeles Memorial Park, 45 S. Monroe Road in Port Angeles, and Sequim View Cemetery, 1505 Sequim-Dungeness Way, are asked to bring non-perishable food donations to mark Memorial Day.
The food will be given to the Port Angeles and Sequim food banks.
The hours at both cemeteries are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, phone 360-452-6255.
