PORT TOWNSEND — A bigger-than-average crowd filled the American Legion post to overflowing at Monday’s Memorial Day commemoration.
“I think the larger crowds have a lot to do with the Quilts of Valor,” said post Chaplain Dave Harrah, referring to the two dozen quilts given to local veterans of World War II and Korea at the ceremony.
“There are some people here that I’ve never seen before.”
The Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post’s main room was crammed with people, with more spilling out of the doorways.
Harrah estimated about 350 were people in attendance, an increase of about 100 from recent years.
Post Commander Gary Lane had another explanation.
“There has been so much hype in the newspapers, on the radio and on TV about our military,” he said.
“I think people are starting to get it.”
It was the first year Quilts of Valor were presented locally, with a group of women making quilts designed for each veteran.
They were individually awarded, with hugs from family members and Quilts of Valor members, along with congratulations from Naval Magazine Indian Island Cmdr. Nicholas A. Vande Griend.
The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a national group whose mission is to provide a quilt for each veteran who has been affected by war.
Quilts of Valor spokesperson Nancy McDaniel said the Jefferson County Historical Society is providing free one-year memberships to all local veterans as thanks for their service.
In exchange, McDaniel invited veterans to sit with a museum representative to provide an oral history that can be entered into the museum archives.
“Today is the day reserved to honor the millions of men and women that perished in battle and those who have lived through battle but perished since then,” Vande Griend said.
“They gave their lives to support and defend this nation.”
Vande Griend said the honor is for all service people, whether they volunteered or were conscripted.
“They fought to defend democracy, to deter our aggressors and to free our allies from the oppression of others,” he said.
“We also want to remember the families that were left behind and bear the burden of their loss.”
After the one-hour ceremony, the honor guard marched across Water Street to City Dock, where commemorative flowers were thrown into the water followed by a 21-gun salute.
The service included a selection of patriotic songs by the Port Townsend Summer Band and was followed by a pot-luck buffet.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
