PORT ANGELES — One by one, five red, white and blue wreaths honoring the nation’s fallen military service members were placed on stands at the Veterans Circle at Mount Angeles Memorial Park, where nearly 100 people gathered to observe Memorial Day and honor fallen U.S. soldiers.
The wreaths of remembrance represented the U.S. Army, prisoners of war and missing in action, the U.S. Marine Corps, the VFW and veterans of the Korean War.
Gerald Rettela, 90, president of the Korean War Veterans Association Olympic Peninsula Chapter, said Monday it is important to continue observing Memorial Day and to remember those served and died in all conflicts.
“I’m getting up there and there aren’t many of us left, but there are young people passing away, too,” said Rettela, who served as an Army staff sergeant. “They say Korea was the forgotten war, but those of who were there, we never forgot.”
As it does every year, members of the Michael Trebert Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and volunteers planted about 1,200 small flags at the graves of military veterans interred in the cemetery.
Carlsborg Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6787, which organized the event, placed American flags around the Veterans Circle. American Legion Riders from Post 29 in Port Angeles stood in a flagline.
The Mt. Olympus detachment of the Marine Corps League played taps and performed a three-volley salute. Bagpiper Erik Evans’ performance before and after the ceremony lent significance and a somber mood to the proceedings.
The a cappella barbershop chorus Juan de Fuca Harmony sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Shenandoah” and “God Bless America.”
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
