Peninsula honors the fallen on Memorial Day
Eighth-grade students in Quilcene display some of the flags, a banner and a cross they will use to honor fallen soldiers and sailors during today’s Memorial Day observances. Members include, front row from left, Peter Dressler, Angel Perez, Kenny Early and Kristen Hall. In back, from left, are Ethan Tyler Ward, Jade Senner and Gavin Womack.
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It is the unofficial beginning of a long summer of vacations in the sunshine — and a solemn day to remember the men and women who died in the service of their country.
Many Americans also use Memorial Day to honor family members and friends who have died.
They leave flowers at loved ones' graves and honor them with remembrances.
Today is the 140th observance of Memorial Day.
The first was in 1868 when the Grand Army of the Republic, all veterans of the Civil War, designated a day in May to honor "the memory of our heroic dead."
At a Memorial Day ceremony after World War II, Gen. George Patton said:
"In my mind, we are here to thank God that men like this lived, rather than regret that they died."
In addition to being a day when buglers play taps and honor guards fire solemn 21-gun salutes, there is a special protocol to Memorial Day.
The flag is supposed to be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon, then "raised briskly," as the U.S. Flag Code directs, to the top.
It is one of the rare days when veterans are allowed to wear their old uniforms.
These Memorial Day ceremonies to honor those who perished in the defense of our nation are scheduled on the North Olympic Peninsula today:
Port Townsend
The Port Townsend Summer Band will perform a half-hour concert of patriotic songs.
The 35-piece band's performance starts at 11:30 a.m. today and precedes Marvin G. Shields Memorial American Legion Post 26's wreath-laying ceremony honoring those who gave their lives for their country.
The event takes place at City Dock by the Pope Marine Building, Water and Madison streets, in downtown Port Townsend.
A 21-gun salute is expected at noon along with flowers cast from the dock and flagbearers from the Legion post, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7014 and the Port Townsend Elks Lodge.
A potluck luncheon will follow at 1 p.m. in the Legion hall at Water and Monroe streets.
Gun salutes will also be conducted at Fort Worden Military Cemetery (10 a.m.), St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery (10:30 a.m.) and Laurel Grove Cemetery (11 a.m.).
Brinnon
The public — and especially veterans, members of the military and their families — are invited to VFW Post 10706's ceremonies and a flagpole dedication at the Brinnon Cemetery on Church Road at 11 a.m. today.
Special music includes vocalist Shirley Moore.
For more information, contact John or Dalila Dowd, 360-796-4001.
Chimacum-Port Hadlock
VFW District 14 — which includes the North Olympic Peninsula's nine VFW posts and six VFW auxiliaries — hosts ceremonies at Greenwood Cemetery in Chimacum at 3 p.m. today.
Participating will be members of Port Townsend's American Legion Post 26; Port Townsend Elks Lodge; and Chimacum Boy Scouts.
The ceremonies will be followed by a potluck, open to the public, at VFW Post 7498, 31 Matheson St., Port Hadlock.
Port Ludlow
A group of local retired military personnel will conduct a disposal ceremony for worn American flags at the Port Ludlow Bay Club at 11 a.m. today.
The public is invited to bring any faded and/or tattered flags to the ceremony, which will be conducted in a dignified manner according to the Flag Code.
The program includes an invocation, singing of the national anthem by The Independents and dedication of each flag to a deceased veteran, group or family member.
Flags should be brought to the Bay Club before 11 a.m. The club is located at 120 Spinnaker Place, off Paradise Bay Road, just south of the Village Center complex.
Following the ceremonies, refreshments will be served inside the Bay Club. The Independents, a mixed choral group, will perform patriotic songs.
For more information, phone Jerry Conover at 360-437-0537.
Port Angeles
American Legion Post 29 will host a Memorial Day program at the Veterans Center, 216 S. Francis St., from 10:30 a.m. to noon today.
Jerry Charles will be the keynote speaker.
The program will include an introduction by Juan Macias, commander of Post 29; invocation by Bill Sanchez, chaplain of Post 29; flag salute and Pledge of Allegiance by Dry Creek Elementary; a song by Beverly Heder; "The Meaning of Our Flag" by Lexi Bennett; a poem by Lindsey Jensen; and "Freedom Is Not Free" by Carmon Macias.
Also, there will be placing of a wreath; a performance of "Amazing Grace" by Don Alwach; rifle salute by the Marine Corps League; "Taps" by Phil Charles; and a benediction.
Refreshments, hosted by VFW Post 1024, will be served after the program.
Sequim
The American Legion and VFW posts in Sequim will join together for a service led by the VFW at Sequim View Cemetery, 1505 Sequim Dungeness Way, at 11 a.m. today.
From there, the two organizations will branch off to do several services at other cemeteries.
The American Legion will go to the Jamestown Cemetery, on Jamestown Road, at 11:30 a.m., then to the Dungeness Cemetery, 2153 Lotzgesell Road, at noon and then at Blue Mountain Cemetery, 1494 Blue Mountain Road, at 12:45 p.m.
The VFW will travel to Pioneer Park Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. and to the Blyn Cemetery, on Zacardo Road, at noon.
For more information on the American Legion services, phone 360-683-5915.
For more information on the VFW services, phone 360-683-9546.
Joyce
A Memorial Day program will be held at the Port Crescent Pioneer Cemetery at Crescent Beach near Salt Creek.
The public program will begin at 11 a.m. today.
For more information, phone 360-457-5944
Forks
The VFW Post in Forks will hold its public Memorial Day ceremony at the end of the week.
It will be held at the Elks Lodge, 941 Merchant Road at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31.
The Coast Guard will present the colors.
Coffee and cake will be served at a reception following the services.
For more information, or to sign up to lead a portion of the ceremony, contact Myron Simmons at 360-374-5129 or Jim Whitehead at 360-374-5103.
Last modified: May 25. 2008 9:00PM