Veterans will be honored with a variety of ceremonies on Saturday as well as school assemblies on Thursday.
The U.S. Coast Guard will conduct a regional ceremony honoring veterans at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Coast Guard Air Station on Ediz Hook.
Gates will open to the public at 9 a.m. Saturday, two hours before the ceremony begins, so as to decrease the bottleneck on the Hook. Carpooling is encouraged since parking is limited.
Each visitor will need government-issued identification such as a driver’s license, military identification or passport. No firearms or other weapons are permitted on the base, which will close to the public at 1 p.m.
The hour-long ceremony will feature Capt. Holly Harrison, chief of staff for the 13th District of the Coast Guard, said Lt. Alex Hawley, who is in charge of the ceremony.
The Port Angeles High School band will perform along with the Port Angeles High School Choir, The Grand Olympic Chorus and Juan de Fuca Harmony, which sings a cappella barbershop music.
The Marine Corp League Honor Guard will provide a three-volley rifle salute.
The base exchange will not be open Saturday. It will re-open on Monday.
Gardiner
• Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Northwest invites the public to the annual Veterans Day Remembrance Program in honor of Medal of Honor recipient construction mechanic third class Marvin G. Shields.
Shields is the only Navy Seabee to have received the Medal of Honor.
The ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Gardiner Community Cemetery at 137 Gardiner Cemetery Road in Gardiner.
A van will provide transportation to the cemetery from the Gardiner Community Center at 980 Old Gardiner Road starting at 10:30 am. Parking is limited at the cemetery so carpooling is requested.
The service will include military guest speakers, reading of the Medal of Honor citation, presenting of the flower box, reading of The Watch, benediction and playing of taps.
Shields was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty in the Vietnam War.
A native of Gardiner, Shields was buried with a Marine Corps honor guard at the Gardiner Cemetery on June 19, 1965.
Port Angeles
• A Veterans Day Assembly is set for 9 a.m. Thursday at the Port Angeles High School gym, 304 E. Park Ave.
Veterans and other members of the public are invited.
Port Townsend
The American Legion, Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26, along with local scout troops, will honor veterans at a ceremony Saturday at the American Legion Hall at 209 Monroe St., Port Townsend.
The Port Townsend Summer Band will perform patriotic music at 10:30 a.m., followed by military honors at 11 a.m.
The ceremony will be followed by a potluck lunch.
The free ceremony is open to the public.
For more information, call the post at 360-385-3454.
Forks
• Forks High School will host an assembly at 2 p.m. Thursday to honor veterans.
Veterans and their families are invited to attend the ceremony in the Spartan gym at 261 Spartan Ave.
• American Legion Post 106 will conduct a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Forks Transit Center, 144 E. E St., off South Forks Avenue.
Before the ceremony, the post will host a Veterans Day Breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Legion Hall at 651 E. Division/Maple St.
Pancakes, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage and beverages will be served for dine-in or takeout. A donation of $10 is suggested. Veterans will be served free of charge.
