PORT ANGELES — Area veterans joined scores of civilians in paying tribute to fallen service members in ceremonies across Clallam County on Memorial Day.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1024 performed one such ceremony in the Veterans Circle at Mount Angeles Memorial Park near Port Angeles on Monday.
Resting places
“This monument represents the resting places of many departed comrades who served in all wars,” said John Kent, commander of Port Angeles-based VFW Post 1024.
“Where ever the body of a comrade lies, there the ground is hallowed. Our presence here is in some commemoration of all these men, an expression of our tribute to devotion to duty, to their courage and patriotism.”
Sponsored by the Clallam County Veterans Association, the morning ceremony drew more than 100 veterans and civilians.
Hundreds of U.S. flags both large and small covered the cemetery grounds.
Theirs to defend
“The flag of our country was theirs to defend,” Kent said.
“Its glorious colors shall waive over them in death as in life for everyone to behold. To you comrades who have departed, we enter a silent salute.”
The ceremony featured a moment of silence, prayer, flag line, rifle salute, the playing of “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes, the singing of “God Bless America” and the ringing of a bell nine times to honor all veterans.
Officers of VFW Post 1024 paid respects to their fallen comrades by placing flowers and emblems on the Veterans Memorial inside the Veterans Circle.
“On behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Auxiliary, I place the emblem of eternity,” said Venay Money, district president of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and a longtime Clallam County veterans advocate.
“Its color speaks life everlasting, thus do we immortalize the brave deeds of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have given their lives on land, on sea and in the air.”
The Veterans Circle on the south end of Mount Angeles Memorial Park is dedicated to all men and women who served in the U.S. armed forces.
“Think not only upon their passing but remember the glory of their spirit,” the memorial reads.
Other ceremonies
Later Monday, American Legion Post 62 and Sequim VFW Post 4760 hosted a joint Memorial Day ceremony at Sequim View Cemetery.
American Legion Post 62 places U.S. flags on veterans’ graves.
From Sequim, the American Legion was scheduled for stops at the Jamestown Cemetery, Dungeness Cemetery and Blue Mountain Cemetery.
On the West End, the city of Forks hosted a Memorial Day program at the Veterans Memorial and city flagpole.
The Fletcher-Wittenborn VFW Rifle Squad and the Cub Scouts of Pack 4467 were scheduled to participate.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
