Memorial Day weekend can feel a little subdued coming on the heels of the Rhody Festival, but even with gray and intermittent sun, the weekend featured plenty of festivities around Port Townsend and Jefferson County. 

Keeping with tradition, families and friends gathered on the morning of Monday, May 27, in a military ceremony of remembrance for those who died in the line of duty. From Chimacum to Fort Worden to Laurel Grove, the echoes of bagpipes and brass filled the air where loved ones honored the brave at these military cemeteries. 

Following ceremonies in Port Townsend, the community was invited to gather at the American Legion’s Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26 for its annual Memorial Day Program. They were treated to a concert by the Port Townsend Summer Band. Marge Rosen and her orchestra filled the hall with ballads and marches by Rob Romeyn, Ed Hukeby, and of course, John Philip Sousa.

Wyatt Ranson, commander of Post 26, spoke to about 200 attendees, including veterans, active-duty personnel, families and friends. With the slightest tremble in his voice, he spoke about the importance of continuing to tell stories of those no longer here. He stressed it is up to everyone to keep their names alive.  

“We need to keep telling their stories and being the voice for them, because they no longer have a voice,” said Ranson. “When we quit telling their stories, their names fade into the unknown past.”

Following the program, guests were invited to City Park Pier to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony and to say farewell to former Post Commander Les Waldren. The hauntingly beautiful pitch of a bagpipe played “Amazing Grace” in the open air before a single bugle honored the fallen with a performance of “Taps.” The ceremony concluded following a gun salute that encouraged sea lions on a nearby boat launch to sing along.  Surrounded by veterans from the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Marines, Waldren’s ashes were laid to rest in Port Townsend Bay.

On Saturday, May 25, Pack 4479 placed approximately 200 flags on graves of veterans at the Catholic Cemetery and the front portion of Laurel Grove Cemetery to honor veterans. Jim Little, from Troop 1479, instructed the Cubs to post the colors at graves that were either marked with a star by the VFW, or an inscription that indicated past military service. Later in the morning, Scouts from 1479 also laid flags in the back portion of Laurel Grove Rainbow.