86th Annual Memorial Day Service at Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park

Memorial Day 2011
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Evergreen Washelli, Monday, May 28th, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. 

Hundreds of veterans, their families and the public will gather for the 86th Annual Memorial Day service and concert in the Veterans Memorial Cemetery located at 11111 Aurora Ave N. in Seattle. 

Scouts, churches, local organizations and families will place flags on all the graves in the Veterans Memorial Cemetery early Monday morning.

The 1:30 p.m. concert will feature marches, patriotic selections and other music provided by the Seattle Pacific University Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Drum Corps. The Service of Remembrance begins at 2:00 p.m.

The program will begin with the Parade of Colors followed by The National Anthem which will be sung this year by Doyle Burke, Pledge of Allegiance led by Skip Dreps, both members of the Veterans Memorial Cemetery Advisory Board.  Chaplain (MAJ) Jonah Brummett will lead us in the Invocation and Benediction with the Memorial Day Address by Captain Pete Mingo.  Wreath Placement Ceremony will be led by the Advisory Board. The program will conclude with a ringing of the liberty bell 21 times, Salute from the Naval Station Everett Honor Guard Members, followed by echo Taps and the Retiring of the Colors. The program should end about 3:00.

The Chimes Tower will play after the program.  The public is invited to listen to patriotic music played by the Chimes Tower while visiting the graves of Medal of Honor Recipients. You may visit their graves, read their stories and see an image of the medals received.   Located on the east side of Aurora Avenue are five Medal of Honor recipients.  Three are interred within the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, and two are located in Section O and W.  You will find one additional Medal of Honor Recipient across the street on the west side of Aurora. From the northwest corner of the cemetery you will see his family plot just south of the Arbor Crest Mausoleums.  Maps are available in the program.