Memorial Day events set in Sequim, Port Angeles

By Sequim Gazette Staff • May 25, 2022 1:30 am
Nancy Zimmermann, chaplain for American Legion Post 62, offers a prayer at the Memorial Day ceremony at Sequim View Cemetery in 2021. At right is Post commander Paul Renick. Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell

The community is invited to observe Memorial Day in and around Sequim next week.

At 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 28, the American Legion Post 62 will put out U.S. flags at the grave sites of all veterans at Sequim View and Dungeness cemeteries.

On Memorial Day, May 30, the first Sequim ceremony begins at Sequim View Cemetery, 1505 Sequim-Dungeness Way. Sequim VFW Post 4760 will conduct the ceremony starting at 11 a.m.

American Legion Post 62 will then host Memorial Day ceremonies at Jamestown (11:30 a.m.), Dungeness (noon) and Blue Mountain (12:45 p.m.) cemeteries.

VFW Post 6787 is also supporting ceremonies at Gardiner and Mount Angeles cemeteries. All are welcome to attend all ceremonies.

Port Angeles event

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6787 (Carlsborg) and the local Daughters of the American Revolution-Michael Trebert Chapter host a public ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 30, at Mount Angeles Memorial Park, 45 Monroe Road, Port Angeles.

The ceremony is “a day to remember fallen soldiers, a day that calls both for solemn reflection and for patriotic celebration,” organizers said. Memorial Day is also a half-staff holiday; flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon, and then raised to the top of the pole until sunset. Those unable to lower their flags can use a mourning streamer or mourning bow.

Port Angeles has not had a public Memorial Day Ceremony since 2019.

The ceremony includes local soloist Amanda Bacon, the Clallam County Junior American Citizens children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and Post 6787 Commander Rod Lee of the Veterans of Foreign Wars leading the ceremonial ritual.

Memorial wreaths will be laid at the cemetery flag pole at Veterans Circle by non-profit organizations.

“Memorial Day is a sacred day to all veterans,” Lee said. “By honoring the nation’s war dead, we preserve their memory by honoring their service and sacrifice.”

The public is asked to help with honoring by placement of more than 2,500 small U.S. Flags at the grave sites on Saturday, May 28, at two Port Angeles sites: Oceanview Cemetery, 3127 W. 18th St. (8 a.m.), and Mount Angeles Memorial Park (9 a.m.).

Public assistance would also be appreciated to pick up the small flags at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 30 at both cemeteries, organizers said.

Get more information about volunteering for this project at justserve.org/projects; search “Memorial Day flag placement – Mt Angeles Cemetery.”