People across the North Olympic Peninsula will recognize the sacrifices of military veterans this weekend during Memorial Day events.
On Saturday morning in Sequim, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4760, American Legion Post 62, Women’s Auxiliary and the Military Officers Association of America will host “Salute to Our World War II Veterans.”
The event will coincide with the unveiling of a World War II memorial in Washington, D.C.
The morning event kicks off with a complimentary prayer breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at VFW Post 4760, 169 E. Washington St., followed by a speech by state Rep. Jim Buck, R-Joyce, music by the Peninsula Girls’ Choir, and a showing of the memorial unveiling on a wide-screen television.
On Monday, numerous public Memorial Day ceremonies will take place in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
Here’s a lineup of events:
Port Angeles
VFW members will hold services in the Veterans Circle at Mount Angeles Memorial Park, Monroe Road at U.S. Highway 101, at 9:30 a.m. Monday. They will place flags on grave sites this weekend.
At 10:30 a.m. Monday, the Clallam County Veterans Association will hold a remembrance ceremony hosted by American Legion Post 29 at the Veterans Center, 216 S. Francis St. Refreshments will be served following the program.
At 1:30 p.m. at the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts, folksinger Hank Cramer will lead a Memorial Day ceremony joined by award-winning San Francisco jazz singer Jenna Mammina, who will perform “Amazing Grace.”
The ceremony takes place on the Ruddell Main Stage at Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St.
Joyce
A ceremony will be held at Port Crescent Cemetery, on Crescent Beach Road, at 11 a.m. Monday.
The Port Angeles Civil Air Patrol will present the colors, Crescent School’s band director will lead band students in a medley of songs, 2003-04 Crescent Honor Society President Phillip Mair will speak, and Crescent’s newly elected ASB president, Cindy Baker, will serve as master of ceremonies.
The ceremony will also include a poem and song from community members, a prayer led by Joyce Bible Church Youth Pastor Joel Richardson, and “Taps” performed by Lucy Dafoe, a Crescent alumna.
Neah Bay
Native American VFW Post 11481 will lay a wreath, conduct a gun salute and place flags on veterans’ graves at Neah Bay Cemetery at 10 a.m. Monday.
Sequim
Ceremonies to commemorate veterans will be held Monday at:
* 11 a.m. at Sequim View Cemetery.
* 11:30 a.m. at Jamestown Cemetery.
* Noon at Dungeness Cemetery.
* 12:45 p.m. at Blue Mountain Cemetery.
The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary place flags at the grave markers of service men and women at the four cemeteries each year for Memorial Day.
Small emblems are permanently attached to grave markers at Jamestown and Blue Mountain cemeteries to identify each veteran, and this weekend the legion and auxiliary will attach similar emblems to grave markers at Dungeness and Sequim View cemeteries.
Relatives or friends of those buried at Dungeness who served in the military are asked to contact legion and auxiliary members at the cemetery this Sunday between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to identify the graves.
Friends or relatives of veterans buried at Sequim View can contact legion and auxiliary members at the cemetery on Monday between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Those who can’t attend at the cemeteries or who want to report missed graves at Jamestown or Blue Mountain cemeteries can call the American Legion at 360-683-5915 and leave a message identifying the deceased person, the grave location, and a contact name and phone number.
Port Townsend
Representatives of the Marvin G. Shields Memorial American Legion Post will lead Memorial Day observances beginning at 10 a.m. Monday at Fort Worden Military Cemetery.
The post’s color guard, accompanied by representatives of Elks Lodge 317 and VFW Post 7014, will also make the following stops:
* 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery on San Juan Avenue.
* 11 a.m. at Laurel Grove Cemetery on Old Discovery Road.
* Noon at City Dock in downtown Port Townsend.
Following the services, the public is invited to a reception at American Legion Post 26 at Water and Monroe streets.
Chimacum
VFW Post 7498 will host a parade of flags with VFW District 14 at 3 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Cemetery on state Highway 19.
Following the ceremony, the VFW post will host a free potluck and celebrate its 45th birthday at 31 Matheson St., Port Hadlock. Those who attend are asked to bring food to share.
