Governor to attend rites for fallen Forest Service officer

PORT ANGELES — Two processions will make their way to the public memorial service for slain U.S. Forest Service Officer Kristine Fairbanks at 1 p.m. Monday at Civic Field.

The hundreds of federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement officers expected to attend will gather at the old Kmart Plaza at U.S. Highway 101 and North Masters Road, east of Port Angeles.

Family members will proceed from the Harper-Ridgeview Funeral Chapel, 105 W. Fourth St., to the athletic field on Race Street between Second and Fourth Streets.

Gov. Chris Gregoire will attend the event, according to Allen Gibbs, a Forest Service spokesman.

At 7 p.m. today, Forest Service and other officials will present a public meeting at The Commons of Forks High School, 261 S. Spartan Ave.

“It will be an opportunity to talk about the memorial service and make comments about her service to the community,” said Olympic National Forest spokeswoman Donna Nemeth.

“We lost a dear friend and a colleague,” she told a Tuesday press conference and offered “our condolences to everyone else who is grieving this loss.”

Meanwhile, one memorial site has been set up at the Forks Transit Center on Forks Avenue. Another is at the front door of the Port Angeles Police Department, 321 E. Fifth St.

There will be no viewing at the funeral home, but a 24-hour honor watch will continue there until Monday.

People wishing to send cards to the Fairbanks family may send them in care of the U.S. Forest Service offices at 437 Tillicum Lane, Forks, WA 98331.

Flowers should be sent to Harper-Ridgeview.

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