Several Memorial Day observances Monday around the South Sound will honor those who gave their lives in service of the nation. The holiday officially began as Decoration Day in 1868, three years after the Civil War ended. Here are some of the events open to the public:
Sumner will hold its event at 10 a.m. at the Sumner City Cemetery, 12324 Valley Ave. East in Puyallup. The Rainbow Girls will place flowers on a memorial as the names of Sumner veterans are read aloud. The Sumner City Cemetery began as two cemeteries: the pioneer cemetery began in 1864 followed by the “town” section in 1902. Veterans buried in the cemetery have served in America’s wars from the Civil War to the present.
The state Capitol in Olympia will hold several observances starting at 10:30 a.m. The Thurston County Veteran Coalition is holding its annual program in the State Capitol Rotunda. The American Legion Band will perform at 10:30 followed by the ceremony at 11. A second observance will begin at noon at the Washington State Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Capitol grounds with the arrival of the Olympia Thunder Run (for more information, e-mail vnvlvmc.olympia@gmail.com). This year marks the 25th anniversary of the dedication of Washington State’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial. A dedication of three new flag poles flying the American, state and POW/MIA flags also is planned.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord will hold its event at 11:30 a.m. at the base cemetery. Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, Lewis-McChord’s deputy commanding general, will be the speaker. A wreath will be laid on the post’s marker honoring fallen service members. There will be a 21-gun salute followed by the playing of taps. Visitors who wish to attend must obtain a pass from the base’s Visitor Center at Exit 120 on Interstate 5. Signs will direct attendees to the cemetery.
New Tacoma Cemetery, 9212 Chambers Creek Road W. in University Place, will hold its event at 11:30 a.m. Guest speakers are Bob O’Neal, an Army veteran and bugler at Tahoma National Cemetery, and Jim Sims, a retired Marine and former national commander of The Military Order of the Purple Heart. Clover Park High School’s Junior ROTC will demonstrate marching and rifle maneuvers, and there will by a 21-gun salute by the Washington National Guard. The 56th annual Masonic Memorial Service will follow at 2 p.m.
Puyallup will have its event at 1 p.m. at the Pioneer Park Pavilion, 330 S. Meridian. Cadets from ROTC programs at local high schools will present stories of courage and heroism in a program that includes the traditional presentation of wreaths in memory of the fallen, rifle salute by members of the VFW and American Legion Honor Guard, and the playing of taps. The Puyallup Valley VFW Post 2224, American Legion Post 67, The Fleet Reserve Association Branch 104 and the City of Puyallup are sponsoring the program.
Milton will host its event at 1 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial on 15th Avenue in Triangle Park. Lt. Col. Dave Hodne, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, is the keynote speaker. Boy Scout Troop 525 will present the colors. Refreshments will be served.
Tahoma National Cemetery, located at 18600 S.E. 240th St. in Kent, will begin its event at 1 p.m. Speakers will be Patrick Prieb, director of the Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Seattle, and James Trimbo, the cemetery’s director. There also will be a laying of wreaths, rifle salute and playing of taps.
Mountain View Funeral Home and the Pierce County Veterans Advisory Council will hold their event at 2 p.m. at the cemetery, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W. in Lakewood. There will be a flyover of C-17 jets from McChord Field and a release of doves. Maj. Reynold Muranaka, a Japanese-American who fought in World War II and the Korean War, is the keynote speaker. There will be a special tribute to honor Army Gen. John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who died in July, and Army Master Sgt. Llewellyn Chilson, one of the most decorated soldiers during World War II, who died in 1981.
DuPont will host its event at 3 p.m. at Ross Plaza in the heart of DuPont Station, the city’s central business district. During the ceremony, names of three fallen service members who lived in DuPont will be added to the memorial wall. There will be a reception following the ceremony at America’s Credit Union.
MORE EVENTS: You can find additional Memorial Day programs here.
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