Oak Harbor: Memorial Day 2021: A Service of Remembrance

Memorial Day 2021:
A Service of Remembrance
Oak Harbor, WA, May 31, 2021 10 am

The Oak Harbor Lions Club and Fleet Reserve Associate Branch 97 team up to remember Memorial Day this year with the Lions’ third annual Service of Remembrance. The ceremony at Oak Harbor’s Maple Leaf Cemetery, 1961 NE 16th Ave, begins promptly at 10 am, with doors open at 9 am. All community members are welcome to mask up and join us for a socially distanced, public Service of Remembrance. Event will be simulcast live and available for replay at https://www.facebook.com/ohlionsclub/

Keynote speakers include NAS Whidbey Island Captain Matthew Arny and Rear Admiral William McDaniel, USN, Retired. Colors will be presented by OHHS NJROTC, ORION Sea Cadets, and Sons of the American Revolution with Patriot Guard Riders at attention. Live music by Navy Band Northwest and local artists. Oak Harbor Mayor Robert Severns will emcee. A traditional VFW, Legion, and Fleet wreath laying ceremony is included. The service is scheduled to conclude with NAS Whidbey Island Search and Rescue flyover.

In 2019, more than 450 people attended the ceremony at Maple Leaf. In 2020, we hosted online. This year, you may join us in person or view live online at https://www.facebook.com/ohlionsclub/ When parking, please look for lot attendants, mask up, and plan on walking to the event space. Golf cart escorts will be available to those who need assistance getting to the site.

Interested in sponsoring our ceremony? Red, white, blue, and star level sponsorships are available. Donations of $50 or more may be made in memory or in honor of your Veteran. New this year, donations of or over $500 will be able to go live with us on Facebook. Event proceeds shall be shared with VFW, Legion, Fleet, and Oak Harbor Lions Club. Donations received by May 21 will be recognized. Donations can be made here: https://ohlions.org/memorial%20day/ For event questions or donation assistance, please contact Kelly Davidson kelly@wallinfuneralhome.com 306/675-3447.

According to Event Coordinator Kelly Davidson of Oak Harbor Lions Club, “Donations from the event allow us to meet pressing needs in our community for Oak Harbor Lions, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Fleet Reserve whose facilities have been closed or limited. Lion members thank everyone who contribute to this important work - you are truly helping Lions make a difference in our community.”

In addition to the Maple Leaf Service, Sunnyside Cemetery, 90 Cemetery Rd, Coupeville will have a short, traditional wreath laying service held at 12:30 pm with VFW, Legion, and Fleet. Due to COVID, no community reception will follow this year.

Community volunteers wanted: Saturday, May 29 and Tuesday, June 1 at 10 am, at Sunnyside and Maple Leaf cemeteries concurrently to assist American Legion with Flag-In. Sign-up not required. Questions, please contact American Legion 675-2411. Join Legionnaire volunteers supported by Sons of the American Revolution to place and then retrieve flags at veteran graves throughout both cemeteries.

The Oak Harbor Lions Club has approximately thirty members and meets on Wednesdays at 7 pm at Elks Club. Lions are groups who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. For more information or to get involved with the Oak Harbor Lions Club, please contact Bobbi Lornson at 320-7066.

About the Lions Clubs International
Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world. More than 1.4 million members in over 48,000 clubs are serving in 200 countries and geographic areas around the globe. Since 1917, Lions have strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects, and we extend our service impact through the generous support of our Lions Clubs International Foundation. We are focused on supporting vision, the environment, childhood cancer, hunger, diabetes and other pressing humanitarian needs to help address some of the biggest challenges facing humanity. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit lionsclubs.org.