Islanders gather for Memorial Day parade and ceremony in Friday Harbor - SLIDESHOW and VIDEO
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Under sunny skies, the American Legion Post 163 Color Guard, Firing Squad, Auxiliary and Our Lady in Mourning (Lynda Guernsey) representing all the widows marched from Court Street down Spring Street in Friday Harbor. The annual Memorial Day parade was followed by the ceremony at Memorial Park.
Commander of American Legion Post 163 Daven Holzer introduced representatives of the Armed Forces including Karl Muller (Army); Jim Glover (Navy); Jason Ross (Marine); Craig (Coast Guard); and Richard Drewery (Air Force).
Paul Arroyo sang the national anthem followed by the invocation by Post 163 Chaplain Karl Krumacher. Commander of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 163 Sandy Roe shared a few remarks followed by Town of Friday Harbor Mayor Farhad Ghatan.
Ghatan said, "We will never be able to repay the debt we owe the individuals who gave the ultimate sacrifice."
Danielle McKay recited the poem "In Flanders Field" by Canadian Major John McCrae.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Commander Holzer read the names of San Juan Island citizens who died in a war.
George Dewey Allian
Harold Butterworth
Fred Ellery Hackett
Watlter E. Eidenreich
John Morris Jones
Bud Curtis Lawson
Charles Lawson
Fred Martin
Voyle B. Martin
Ervine Pease
Walter "Bud" Sutherland
Laurence Lawson
Photos by Sharon Kivisto
Boy Scouts and students from Stillpoint School gave flowers to the woman representing all the women in the Armed Forces and then threw flowers into the water in honor of those who died at sea.
Angel Michael sang "America the Beautiful". Children covered their ears as the Post 163 Firing Squad shot off three rifle shots in honor of Memorial Day. Taps was played by David Eden and another man. The ceremony wrapped up with Al Spry firing the very loud cannon.