PORT TOWNSEND — Fallen servicemen and women were honored on Memorial Day with ceremonies at sites throughout the city.
The American Legion Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26 Honor Guard led morning events at Fort Worden Cemetery, Laurel Grove Cemetery and at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. Wreaths were laid, taps was played, prayers were offered and a 21-gun salute recognized those who served the country. Small gatherings of the public were present at each location during a beautiful late spring day.
At noon, a standing-room only crowd of veterans, active military and the public filled the American Legion Hall, which was underscored by the music of the Port Townsend Summer Band conducted by Miles Vokura.
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The national anthem was sung at each location by Selina Espinoza, who said she has been participating in the annual event for 16 years.
“I do it to honor my father and every other member of the armed forces,” she said. Her father was a Navy chief who served two tours in Vietnam.
Exhaulted Ruler Billie Fullerton of the Port Townsend Elks Lodge No. 317 does the traditional laying of the wreath off Port Townsend City Dock during the final ceremony of the American Legion Memorial Day observance Monday. (Jeannie McMacken/Peninsula Daily News)
Post Chaplin David Harrah explained the POW-MIA table that sat empty to one side of the hall.
“The table is small to signify the fragility of the prisoner,” he explained. “The single red rose represents the blood sweat and tears they’ve given in honor of their service. The lemon represents the bitter times they go through. Salt is the tear that all of us offer. The inverted glass can’t be used with us to toast at this time.”
Post Commander Butch Clarberg said the day was sacred and was meant to recognize active and veteran members of the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines. The band played a medley of each military branch’s anthem as those from each stood and received recognition.
Kathey Bates, member of the Quilts of Valor-Jefferson County Chapter, explained the significance of the quilt program.
“Jefferson County Quilts of Valor is committed to providing quilts for veterans across the northern Olympic Peninsula, from Port Ludlow to Brinnon to Forks,” she said. “Our mission is to cover veterans with comfort though quilts. They are our way of saying thank you for your service and sacrifice, the injuries, the loneliness, the dark watches, the separation from family.
Rick Castellano, part of the American Legion honor guard, plays taps on a 1934 bugle that belonged to his father. He said his father and grandfather both played taps and he’s been carrying on the tradition for 50 years. (Jeannie McMacken/Peninsula Daily News)
“Anyone who has served in any branch of the military is eligible to receive a quilt. If you have a friend, a relative or neighbor and you would like them to receive a quilt, go online to the Quilts of Valor website [www.qovf.org]. There is no cost to the veteran or the requester. All are handmade by volunteers and measure 60 inches by 80 inches.”
Quilts were presented to 21 veterans during the ceremony in Port Townsend, including Wendell Ankey, Navy; Glenn Davis Air Force; David Dover, Army; Mike Hammers, Army; David Harrah, Navy; Harold Harvey, Army; Robert Hickman, Navy; Raymond Hunter, Navy; Kathleen Jones, Navy; Willie Knoepfle, Army; April Lawson, Air Force; Shannon Lawson-Smith, Navy; Craig Lohner, Navy; Darrell McFarland, Coast Guard; David Munro, Marine Corps; Wayne Neufeld, Navy; Ken Neufeld, Army; Marc F. Povondra, Army; Russ Toups, Navy; and Walter Vaux, Army.
At the Fort Worden Cemetery, Jana Allen of Port Townsend remembers her grandfather, William Dahlstrom, who trained troops at Fort Worden. An immigrant from Sweden, Dahlstrom served in the Army. (Jeannie McMacken/Peninsula Daily News)
Harrah ended the ceremony by asking those in attendance, “to pay our respects to our departed men and women of the armed service, as we stand with bowed heads in reverence to them.
“Let us silently pray for peace, the peace that passes all understanding. And let us in mind, in our conscious, consecrate our hearts in life to the real United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. The America worth fighting for.
“Let us also remember the missing POWs and MIAs that are still unaccounted for from other wars and conflicts.”
The color guard led a procession across Water Street to the City Dock where wreaths were thrown into Port Townsend Bay, a final 21-gun salute was given and the haunting melody of taps was played one last time.
The crowd departed silently, back to the American Legion Hall for a buffet, cake and conversation as the flowers floated gently out with the tide.
Memorial Day services were also held Monday in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and Gardiner.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
At the Fort Worden Cemetery, members of a rifle honor guard fire their weapons three times in the traditional ceremony to honor the fallen. (Jeannie McMacken/Peninsula Daily News)
A standing-room only crowd filled the American Legion Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26 in Port Townsend on Monday to honor Memorial Day. (Jeannie McMacken/Peninsula Daily News)
At the Memorial Day ceremony at the Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26, the Port Townsend Summer Band is led by Miles Vokurka, conductor, during an arrangement of traditional musical selections including “Let Freedom Ring” arranged by Kenny Bierschenk. (Jeannie McMacken/Peninsula Daily News)