Tahoma National Cemetery honors military members past and present and recognizes the centennial of World War I at its 21st annual Veterans Day program on Sunday, Nov. 11.
The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. in the main flag pole assembly area, 8600 SE 240th St., Kent.
The theme: the 100-Year Anniversary of World War 1.
Keynote speaker is Mary Elder, Navy veteran, assistant regional director for external affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The guest speaker will be Lt. Col. Michael Fawcett, commanding officer, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Detachment of the Royal Canadian Air Force Strategic Air Command. The Stearman WWI vintage biplanes, led by pilot Rich Aldridge, will do a flyover – weather permitting – at 11:05 a.m.
The Canadian Royal Forces Detachment from JBLM and their family members will join the ceremony.
Seventh- and eighth-graders from U.S. history and advanced leadership classes at Covington’s Maple View Middle School placed individual gravesite flags at the cemetery this week. Students from Tahoma High School’s U.S. military history and Washington state history classes helped.
“Tahoma and all national cemeteries honor our country’s veterans, fallen military members and their families every day by conducting committal services and interments with dignity and respect,” said Thomas Yokes, Tahoma National Cemetery director. “Our gates are open during daylight hours for visitation by all. We encourage our community to come visit and learn about what we do.”
For Sunday’s program, parking space is limited. Plan to walk to and from your parking spot to the ceremony.
Disabled parking is available with a shuttle.
For more information, visit cem.va.gov or call 425-432-9614.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
