Hundreds of veterans, their families and the public will gather for Evergreen-Washelli’s 89th-annual Memorial Day service and concert in the Veterans Memorial Cemetery (11111 Aurora Ave. N.) starting at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, May 25.
Scouts, churches, local organizations and families will place flags on all the graves in the Veterans Memorial Cemetery early Monday morning.
The concert, which will begin at 1:30 p.m., will feature marches, patriotic selections and other music provided by the Seattle Pacific University Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Drum Corp.
The Service of Remembrance will begin at 2 p.m. with the Parade of Colors. The Color Guard is from the Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, Bangor. Following will be the National Anthem, which Maria Kesovija will sing this year, and Carol Ridenhour will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chaplain Edward Fackler will lead the Invocation and Benediction, with the Memorial Day address by Marine Corps Lt. Col. Stephen Keane.
The cemetery’s advisory board will lead the wreath-placement ceremony.
The program will conclude with a ringing of the Liberty Bell 21 times, followed by Taps and the Retiring of the Colors. The program is expected to end about 3 p.m.
The public is invited to visit the graves of the Medal of Honor recipients. Three are interred within the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, and two are located in Section O and W, both on the east side of Aurora Avenue North. One additional Medal of Honor recipient is interred across the street on the west side of Aurora; his family plot just south of the Arbor Crest Mausoleums, from the northwest corner of the cemetery. The gravesites are roped off to assist in finding their location. Maps are available in the program.