Members of the Edmonds Cemetery and Columbarium Board are inviting the public to attend the 30th Annual Memorial Day Observance at 11 a.m. Monday, May 28 at the cemetery, located at 100th Avenue West and 15th Street Southwest, one block north of the Westgate QFC. American Sign Language translation will be provided. The event will take place rain or shine and is approximately one hour long.

Street parking is available along 100th Avenue West and 15th Avenue. Parking within the cemetery is limited to those with handicap-parking permits. Limited seating is available, so guests are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs. Refreshments, provided by the Lynnwood Emblem Club #366, will be served after the program and visitors are 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 includes the graves of over 400 veterans. In honor of Memorial Day, graves of all the veterans will be marked with a white cross and a miniature U.S. flag. A special invitation is extended to Pearl Harbor survivors, all veterans and Gold Star families.

Long-time Edmonds resident and Cemetery Board Member Dale Hoggins will be the Master of Ceremonies. This year we are paying tribute to Pearl Harbor survivors. Snohomish County resident and Navy veteran Ervin Schmidt will share his story through an interpretative reading by Edmonds-Woodway High School senior Blaise Lamb.

The Presentation of Colors will be conducted by the following groups: American Legion Post #66, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8870, Explorer Post #734, Girl Scout Troop #42093, Cub Pack #331 and the Washington National Guard. Fred Apgar, member of the VFW Post #8860, will lead a POW/MIA Remembrance Service.

The EWHS Vocal Volunteers will sing several songs throughout the ceremony along with the high school’s Brass Quintet, which will perform several songs, including the “Armed Forces Medley” and “America the Beautiful.” A proclamation will be made acknowledging the 100th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts.

EWHS senior Katarina Nguyen will read her award-winning VFW essay. Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling, who has participated in the program for many years playing “Taps,” will give his first mayoral Memorial Day address, “December 7, 1941.” The program will end with a rifle salute by the Washington National Honor Guard – Camp Murray contingent and bagpiper Mike Barber playing “Amazing Grace”.