A day to pay honor to the dead

Herald staff

Memorial Day weekend is the time when many residents of Snohomish County like to get out of town and go camping.

But those who stay at home in east Snohomish County like to get out their folding chairs, sit along the highway and watch everyone else go camping.

They call themselves the Flatlanders.

It’s a tradition in and around Gold Bar, the old-timers say. It’s their way of thumbing their noses at the invasion of city folk who spend the three-day weekend in "the country."

Clyde Jelinek isn’t sure what his plans are for the weekend. He may just rest up from the work he’s been doing getting the Sultan Cemetery ready for Memorial Day visitors.

Jelinek is the appointed caretaker of the cemetery, which has been around since the late 1800s. Crews from the city of Sultan also make the grounds shine for a weekend that’s meant to honor the dead.

The Index Museum will open for the season at noon on Saturday. Hours are noon to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

The museum at Gold Bar also will be open this weekend for those who are passing through town on U.S. 2. It’s open from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer.

There are public parks for picnics along U.S. 2 at both Sultan and Gold Bar. Elsewhere in the eastern part of the county, city parks in Snohomish and Monroe are expected to be busy with local picnickers.

Index will have its annual Memorial Day events, including a rummage sale and raffle and bake sale at the Sportsman’s Hall from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

On Whidbey Island on Sunday, the Island County Historical Society will host the second annual Sunnyside Cemetery picnic and tour from noon to 4 p.m. Complimentary drinks will be provided, and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the view of historic Ebey’s Prairie from the cemetery. The cemetery, which was deeded to Island County in 1869, is the burial site of many of central Whidbey Island’s most famous pioneers.

The day will also include guided walking tours by historian Theresa Trebon. Tours start at 1 and 2 p.m. at the cemetery. The suggested donation is $5. A free shuttle service from the museum in Coupeville to the cemetery will be provided by Whidbey Tours. For more information, contact the Island County Historical Society at 360-678-3310.

Here are other ceremonies, parades and meals planned for Memorial Day weekend throughout Snohomish and Island counties:

Arlington: A parade is planned for 10 a.m. Monday on Olympic Avenue, followed by an Avenue of Flags ceremony at the Arlington Cemetery at 20310 67th Ave. NE.

Bothell: Flowers will be placed in the river during a ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Park at Bothell Landing at 9919 NE 180th St.

Coupeville: A Memorial Day parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday. Capt. Larry Salter, base commander of Whidbey Naval Air Station, and members of the "Whidbey 24" crew from VQ-1 will participate in the parade. A remembrance ceremony will be held after the parade, which starts near Terry Road at Main Street. The route follows the full length of Main Street onto Front Street, turning away from the water at the Coupeville Wharf, and then up Coveland hill into Town Park.

Darrington: A ceremony is planned at 1 p.m. Monday at Darrington Cemetery, 45521 Highway 530 NE, with American Legion Post 76 and VFW Post 1561 attending.

Edmonds: A service is planned for 11 a.m. Monday at Edmonds Memorial Cemetery at 820 15th St. SW. A special invitation is extended to Merchant Seamen of World War II. Participants include Vietnam Veterans SnoKing Chapter No. 423, American Legion Post No. 66, Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 8870, Scout groups and a Marine Wing Squadron from Whidbey Island. The service will be signed for the hearing impaired.

Everett: Everett Elks Lodge No. 479, Emblem Club No. 523, families, friends and Scouts will be out in force Monday. At 7 a.m. they will gather at Evergreen Cemetery at 4504 Broadway in Everett and place flags next to veterans’ graves. They will then move on to do the same at Cypress Lawn at 1615 SE Everett Mall Way. At 4 p.m., flags will be picked up and stored until next year. (Protocol dictates that flags be removed from the field before sunset.)

A ceremony is planned at noon Monday at Cypress Lawn.

The Central Memorial Day Committee plans a service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Memorial Community Church at 710 Pecks Drive, and a service at 11 a.m. Monday at Evergreen Cemetery.

Granite Falls: The American Legion in Granite Falls offers a service at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the American Legion Cemetery, 10406 Jordan Road. Guest speaker will be Dick Smith, past department commander. Boy Scout Troop No. 28 will present the flags. Girl Scouts will drop poppies. A potluck will follow at the American Legion Hall, 301 S. Granite Ave.

Lake Stevens: At noon Saturday, more than 1,000 veterans, their families and other military dignitaries are expected to gather at Main Street to dedicate the town’s new war memorial. Veteran and longtime Lake Stevens resident Jack Sahlbom has been spearheading the creation of the memorial. Master of ceremonies will be Hank Robinett, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel from Snohomish. The ceremony will include music by the U.S. Navy band from Bangor and the U.S. Navy Sea Cadets Drill Team. Also on the agenda is a roll call for the 28 veterans from within the greater Lake Stevens area who gave their lives during war. Additional parking will be provided at Lake Stevens High School where two buses will shuttle guests to and from the ceremony.

Lynnwood: Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 423 in Lynnwood have organized services at 3 p.m. Monday at Floral Hills Cemetery at 409 Filbert Road. 425-672-1800.

Lynnwood VFW Post No. 1040 offers a program at 11 a.m. Monday in Veterans Memorial Plaza at 44th Avenue W. and Veterans Way, next to the Lynnwood Library. They will plant a tree to stand as silent witness to those who lost their lives in the service.

Marysville: More than 200 American flags line the driveways at the Marysville Cemetery during daylight hours, Saturday through Monday, at 8801 State Ave. A service is planned for 11 a.m. Monday.

Monroe: American Legion Post No. 58, IOOF Lodge No. 156 and VFW Post No. 7511 sponsor a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. Monday at the IOOF Cemetery at 21714 Old Owen Road.

Survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor will be honored at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Monroe Galaxy 12 Theater in Monroe. See an honor guard flag ceremony, and hear Herb Dake, president of the Snohomish chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. The theater will display war memorabilia and raise money for the Arizona Memorial Museum Association.

Seattle police officer Nick Davis, a native of Monroe, will be honored at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the IOOF Cemetery during National Police Week.

Seattle: The Seattle Pacific University Symphonic Wind Ensemble plays at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park at 11111 Aurora Ave. N. A service follows at 2 p.m.

Shoreline: Attend Mass at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Holyrood Cemetery at 205 NE 205th St. The cemetery will be decorated with flags placed by Catholic War Veterans and the Knights of Columbus.

Snohomish: An 11 a.m. Monday ceremony is planned at the GAR Cemetery at 8601 Riverview Road by American Legion Post 96 and the Snohomish VFW. The Snohomish High School band and the Snohomish ROTC and its color guard and rifle teams will take part in the ceremony that is open to the public. Hank Robinett is the speaker.

Sultan: A Sultan-Gold Bar ceremony is sponsored by Gold Bar VFW Post 9417, 11 a.m. Monday at the monument in Sultan cemetery on Cemetery Road off U.S. 2.