Veterans Day commemorations are planned in Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend and Forks today.
The U.S. Coast Guard will not host a regional Veterans Day celebration this year, according to Holly Rowan, president of the Clallam County Veterans Association.
• Sequim Civic Center —Rowan recommended that those who want to attend a commemoration in the Port Angeles-Sequim area, go to the Veterans Day Ceremony set for 11 a.m. today at the Sequim Civic Center plaza, 152 W. Cedar St.
The Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and the Clallam County Veterans Association will jointly host the ceremony, which will mirror the National Observance of Veterans Day in honoring and thanking all who served in the United States Armed Forces.
The event will feature a rendition of the National Anthem, presentation of the flags of the veterans organizations in Clallam County, and remarks by Col. Tom Johnson (U.S. Marine Corps, ret.) about the significance of Veterans Day.
The ceremony will conclude with the rendering of honors by the Marine Corps League.
Other commemorations are:
• Gardiner Cemetery — GARDINER — Naval Facilities Command Northwest will host a memorial service for Marvin G. Shields at 11 a.m. today.
The service is at Shields’ gravesite in the Gardiner Cemetery, 137 Gardiner Cemetery Road.
Construction Mechanic Third Class Petty Officer Marvin G. Shields was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966 for his heroic actions near Dong Xoai, Vietnam, on June 9, 1965. He is the only Navy Seabee to have received the Medal of Honor.
Shields was born and raised in the Port Townsend – Sequim area before he joined the U. S. Navy. Leaving behind a wife and young daughter, Shields was sent to Vietnam in May 1965.
When his camp was attacked by more than 2,000 Viet Cong, Shields helped run ammunition to U.S. military members engaged in the night-long battle, ensuring they didn’t run out, according to a press release.
When a call came for a volunteer to take out a Viet Cong machine gun nest, Shields fired a weapon he had never used before; his third shot accomplished the mission, the press release said.
Shields was mortally wounded as he returned to his fighting position “but he never gave up, ” according to the release.
“He was so focused on his camp mates that he kept them laughing with jokes and stories until a rescue helicopter arrived. As it carried him to medical attention and safety, Shields succumbed to his wounds.”
• Port Townsend ceremony — PORT TOWNSEND — The American Legion, Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26, will honor veterans at a ceremony today at the American Legion post at 209 Monroe St.
The Port Townsend Summer Band will perform patriotic music at 10:30 a.m., followed by military honors at 11 a.m.
Quilts of Valor will present 10 veterans, from Korea through Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom, with quilts honoring their service.
The ceremonies 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 or Kathey Bates, of North Olympic Peninsula Quilts of Valor, at 360-316-9798.
• Forks ceremony — FORKS — The American Legion Post 106 will conduct a Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. today at the Gold Star Memorial at the Forks Transit Center on Spartan Avenue. The community is welcome to attend.
• Veterans Center — PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Veterans Center will host a barbecue for veterans and their families at 1 p.m. today.
The meal will be at the center, 216 S. Francis St., Port Angeles.
• Fee free day — OLYMPIA — Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest and Washington State Parks will waive entrance fees on Veterans Day.
The national park will not charge admission fees today. Fees for camping, reservations, concessions and fees collected by third parties still will apply.
The national forest will not charge fees for day use sites, such as picnic areas, developed trailheads and destination visitor centers. The waiver does not apply to special recreation permits, cabin rentals or campground reservations, nor does it include expanded amenity fees charged for certain highly-developed sites, service charges or fees assessed by independent concessionaires operating on National Forest land.
State parks will not require visitors to display a Discover Pass for day-use visits to a state park.
• Ferries honor veterans — SEATTLE — All operating Washington State Ferries will sound their horns at 11:11 a.m. today to honor U.S. military veterans.
Additionally, each ferry will fly one of the six service flags and the POW/MIA flag.
The six services, in order of precedence, are the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and the recently formed Space Force.
This is the seventh year that the state ferry system has recognized Veterans Day and the first time that its vessels will fly service flags.
After today
• American Legion — FORKS — American Legion Post 106 will host pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at Maple and E. Division streets.
Admission is by a suggested $10 donation.
• Forks Elks — FORKS — Elks Lodge 2524 will host a Veterans Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at 941 Merchant Road. Veterans and spouses of deceased veterans dine for free; all others can enjoy the meal by donation.
The menu will be a traditional turkey dinner.
• Veterans dinner — PORT ANGELES — Fairview Grange, 161 Lake Farm Road, will host a Veterans Appreciation Dinner at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15.
The grange will provide pot roast, ham and fixings.
Veterans or active service members need not bring any food; others are asked to bring a potluck item.
The grange will conduct a short ceremony to show its appreciation.
For more information, call 360-461-9008.
