EVERETT — About a hundred veterans and their families joined the Memorial Day ceremony held Monday at the Evergreen Funeral Home and Cemetery.
Veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam assisted at the event organized by the Snohomish County Central Memorial Committee, which also hosts ceremonies for Veterans Day and Pearl Harbor Day.
The committee is composed of volunteers from eight veterans groups.
The event’s goal was to send a message to the enlisted: You are not forgotten.
“We believe in telling the military personnel that we appreciate them for protecting us,” said Norma Rae Pilkenton, committee secretary.
Her husband, Bradford, gave the introductions to the 45-minute program, which also included Lt. Comdr. John Carter, of the U.S. Navy, and Sgt. Jason Jewett, of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Students from the ROTCs of Everett and Snohomish high schools also participated.
Bradford Pilkenton is a veteran who wanted to remember his family and other soldiers who served the country.
“Below these headstones, there are stories to be told and sometimes, they are not told,” he said.
People need to attend these kind of ceremonies so they can show respect and learn about the sacrifices that were made, said Dale Fischer, of Everett, who served in Korea with the Marine Corps.
“We are still in Afghanistan, but if you look around, it doesn’t feel like we are in a war,” Fischer said.
For Mac McKinley, the best part about the program was seeing young people participating.
“I think it’s wonderful, and it’s great to see the youth,” said McKinley, who served in Korea and Vietnam with the Navy between 1947 and 1967. “America is in good hands.”
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.
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