OAK HARBOR — This Memorial Day, community members are invited to honor those who have fallen while serving the country at three events on Whidbey Island.
The sixth annual Service of Remembrance kicks off at 10 a.m. at the Maple Leaf Cemetery in Oak Harbor, with doors opening at 9 a.m.
The ceremony is hosted by the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7392, and those who are unable to attend can watch the live broadcast on the Oak Harbor Memorial Day YouTube channel, according to a press release.
The event will feature Capt. Eric Hanks, commanding officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, as the keynote speaker, with U.S. Navy retired Cmdr. Jack Curtis as a guest speaker.
The Oak Harbor High School NJROTC, ORION Sea Cadets and Sons of the American Revolution will present the colors while the Patriot Guard Riders will stand at attention.
The Scottish American Military Society will bring live music, while Sea Cadet Airman Jackson Housholder will read a poem. Cadet Chief Yosefa Orloff from Naval Station Everett is expected to sing “Angel Flight,” and Oak Harbor High School NJROTC Cadet Lieutenant Junior Grade Spencer Grubbs will perform the National Anthem, according to the museum’s Visitor Services and Public Programs Manager Kelly Davidson.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars are scheduled to lead a wreath laying ceremony, while guests can admire a static display of the Life Flight helicopter. The ceremony is planned to end with NAS Whidbey Island Search and Rescue flying an MH-60S helicopter over the cemetery.
Following the event, guests can bring some food to the open house potluck, held at 2 p.m. at the Whitehead-Muzzall VFW Post 7392, located at 3037 Goldie Road in Oak Harbor.
At the Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville, the American Legion Post 129 VFW and the Fleet Reserve will host a flag ceremony and wreath-laying service at 1 p.m., with an open house reception at the Veterans of Foreign Affairs Post 7392 at 2 p.m.
At 2 p.m., local historians Lee James and Patrick Hussey will tell the history of Whidbey’s “second wave” early settlers, taking guests on a tour of the cemetery. Tickets for the guided tour cost $5 and can be purchased at the Island County Museum or at the tour, with proceeds going to the Island County Museum, according to the historical society.
On the South End, the Clinton Cemetery will host its annual Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. Monday, featuring guest speaker Dale Ann Norris, a retired Navy commander.
Luisa Loi; luisa.loi@whidbeynewsgroup.com
This story originally appeared in the Whidbey News-Times, a sibling publication to The Herald.
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