Local Memorial Day activities

The grave of Medal of Honor winner
Robert Earl Bonney at Acacia
Photo by Jerry Pickard

Acacia Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 14951 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, 206-362-5525

Acacia will be holding its Annual Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 25, 2015 at 11:00am on the grounds at Acacia.

Starting Saturday through Memorial Day Monday from approximately 9:30am till 5:00pm, staff will be out on the grounds, available to assist those who are visiting loved ones.

In addition, girl scouts and boy scouts will be helping with flags and providing hot dogs for those who are visiting.

Edmonds Memorial Cemetery
Photo courtesy Edmonds Parks and Recreation

Edmonds Memorial Cemetery and Columbarium, 100th Avenue West and 15th Street, one block north of the Westgate QFC.

Members of the Edmonds Cemetery and Columbarium Board invite the public to attend the 33rd Annual Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 25, at 11am. The event will take place rain or shine and is approximately one hour long.

This year is the 70th anniversary of V-J Day, the end of WWII in the Pacific. Our theme is built around this era. Ceremonial flags will be those of two Pacific WWII veterans on loan by their families. Erwin Schmidt, a Pearl Harbor survivor, a survivor of two ships that were sunk while he was aboard, and a member of the submarine that fired the last torpedo before V-J Day. Carl Swenson, Captain USNR, a 33 year active and reserve Naval Officer, assigned to a landing craft at Iwo Jima, a planker aboard this ship that carried 24 Higgins landing craft. Our special guest this year will be Robert “Buck” Weaver, an Army Air Corps Pilot assigned to the 5th Air Force 41st Fighter Squadron. He flew 137 combat missions in the Pacific flying P39 and P40 aircraft.

Longtime Edmonds resident and Cemetery Board Member, Patrick Kelly is Master of Ceremonies. Over 40 youth will participate in this ceremony. Parking within the cemetery is limited to those with handicap-parking permits. Street parking is available along 100th Avenue West and 15th Avenue. Limited seating is available. Guests are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs. Refreshments, including cookies provided by the Lynnwood Emblem Club 366 and coffee provided by Walnut Street Coffee, will be served after the program. Visitors are also invited to stroll the cemetery grounds and take a self-guided tour using one of the cemetery’s walking maps.

The Edmonds Memorial Cemetery was placed on the Washington State Register of Historic Places in 1972 and has over 400 veterans interred. In honor of Memorial Day, graves of all veterans will be marked with a white cross and a miniature U.S. flag.

We are awaiting information from Holyrood and Evergreen-Washelli.