Memorial Day Events in Oregon

One of the longest standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911.

Each year on Memorial Day, Americans pay honor to all of those who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - 2009 Oregon Memorial Day Events Set Throughout Oregon

Each year on Memorial Day, Americans pay honor to all of those who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

In recognition of the holiday’s rich history, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is announcing the Memorial Day celebrations occurring statewide of which the agency has been made aware.

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868 as a day in which the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers would be decorated with flowers.

The holiday’s name was later changed to Memorial Day. In 1971, it became a federal holiday to be observed on the last Monday in May.

MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS THROUGHOUT OREGON:

Albany

May 26 – 11:30 a.m. – Linn VFW Post 584 will host a memorial service at Willamette Memorial Park, 2640 N.E. Old Salem Road. Free lunches will be available afterwards at Post 584, 1469 Timber St. S.E., and at American Legion Post 10, 1215 Pacific Blvd. S.E.

May 26 – 2 p.m. – Linn VFW Post 584 will host a memorial service at Twin Oaks Cemetery, 34275 Riverside Drive. Guest speaker: Val Conley, Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Contact: Roy Poppleton, 541-974-2172.

Ashland

May 22-26 – The Welcome Home Project will sponsor a five-day veterans retreat at Buckhorn Springs near Ashland. The retreat will feature the use of expressive arts to share stories and support veterans. Michael Meade and Peggy Rubin will facilitate. Contact Bill McMillen at 541-482-1072 or visit www.thewelcomehomeproject.org.

Beaverton

May 26 – 11 a.m. – American Legion Post 124 will host a ceremony at Beaverton Memorial Park on Watson Street. Legion Post 158’s band will play. An Air National Guard flyover has been requested.Contact: Marv Doty, 503-644-0350

Bend

May 24 – 9:30 a.m. – DAV Chapter 14, American Legion Post 4, Vietnam Veterans Chapter 820, and Bend, Mountain View and Summit High School NJROTC units will place flags at veteran’s gravesites at Pilot Butte Cemetery, 575 N.E. 15th St.

May 24 – 10 a.m. – VFW Post 1643 will conduct a flag placement ceremony at Deschutes Memorial Gardens located on Highway 97 two miles north of Bend.

May 26 – The Parade of Flags will have 200 flags displayed downtown and on Veterans Memorial Bridge. They will be posted by Boy Scout Troop 25.

May 26 – 1 p.m. – VFW Post 1643 will conduct a ceremony at Deschutes Memorial Gardens located on Highway 97 one mile north of Bend. Post 1643, located at N.E. 4th and Olney, will host an open house afterwards. Contact: Keith Macnamara, 541-385-3214.

Buck Hollow

May 26 – 10:30 a.m. – VFW Post 4211, NIVA, AMVETS Post 2000, and American Legion Post 75 will conduct services at the Buck Hollow Cemetery, located off of Willamina Creek Road on Buck Hollow Road. Contact: Carl Lambert 503-879-4222

Canyonville

May 24 – 11 a.m. – VFW Post 5714 will host a Veterans Remembrance Ceremony at City Hall, 250 N. Main. Guest speakers: Sue Shaffer, Cow Creek Tribe; Bill Markham, and Rick Wesenberg. An Air National Guard flyover has been requested. Contact: Chuck Spindel, 541-863-1602.

Coos Bay

May 24 – 11 a.m. – AMVETS Post 10 will host a parade downtown. The parade will include marching bands, veterans groups, and many community organizations and will begin at 4th Street and Golden Avenue. The parade’s Grand Marshall will be Iwo Jima combat veteran, Lloyd T. Keeland.

May 24 – 1 p.m. – A memorial ceremony will take place at the Marshfield High School gymnasium, located at 10th and Ingersoll. Selected veterans will be presented with the Oregon Honorable Service Medal.

May 26 – 11 a.m. – Memorial Day services will be held at Ocean View Cemetery, 1525 Ocean Blvd. N.W., and 12 p.m. at Sunset Cemetery, 63060 Millington Road. AMVETS Post 10 will post the Avenue of Flags. Contact: Fred or Jan Clauson, 541-759-2291

Corvallis

May 26 – 10 a.m. – American Legion Post 11 and VFW Post 640 will host a ceremony at Crystal Lake Cemetery on Crystal Lake Drive. Contact: Nicky Jones, 541-753-4149

May 26 – 2 p.m. – The annual program will be held at the Benton County Veterans Memorial, 1100 N.W. Kings Blvd. Tribute will be paid to Benton County soldiers who have been killed in Iraq and to Purple Heart recipients—all will be honored on the “Purple Heart Walkway of Honor.” In case of inclement weather, the event will move inside with seating available. Contact: Les Whittle, 541-752-3222

Dallas

May 26 – 11 a.m. – American Legion Post 20 and VFW Post 3203 will host a memorial ceremony at the Dallas Cemetery, 2065 S.W. Fairview Avenue. Nearly 400 U.S. flags will be posted on the Avenue of Flags. Guest speaker: Col. Don Bond, Oregon Army National Guard. Contact: Al Ratzlaff, 503-623-2591

Depoe Bay

May 26 – 11 a.m. – The 63rd annual Fleet of Flowers memorial will depart from the harbor following a brief bay front ceremony. All five U.S. military service flags will be presented. Taps will be played. The fleet’s vessels will on-load people at the docks. Flowers will later be cast upon to the open ocean in memory of U.S. military members who have given their lives in service to our country, those who have lost their lives at sea , or buried at sea. A U.S. Coast Guard flyover has been requested. Contact: Barbara Leff, 541-765-3445

Eagle Point

May 26 – 11 a.m. – At Eagle Point National Cemetery, veterans will lay wreaths at gravesites. A 21-gun salute will be fired. An Air National Guard flyover has been requested. The cemetery is located 14 miles northeast of Medford and one mile east of Eagle Point at 2763 Riley Road. Contact: Bob Huff, 541-825-4916

Eugene

May 26 – 9 a.m. – Mount Calvary Cemetery, 220 Crest Drive, will host their annual Memorial Day Mass and “Salute to Veterans” – a tribute to honor all veterans and their families, especially those killed in battle. Contact: Don Dove, 686-8722

May 26 – 12 p.m. – Lane Memorial Gardens, at 5300 W. 11th Ave., will host their annual “Salute to Veterans” – a tribute to honor all veterans and their families, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Contact: Dee Harbison, 343-1684

May 26 – 1:30 p.m. – West Lawn Memorial Park, 225 S. Danebo Ave., and the Lane County Memorial Day Association, will host their annual “Salute to Veterans,” tribute and will honor all veterans and their families, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. A memorial will be dedicated to Vietnam War veterans. Keynote speaker: Jim Willis, Director, Oregon Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs. Contact: Randy Wood, 342-8281

Florence

May 26 – 10 a.m. – A commemorative memorial service will be held at Elks Lodge 1858, 1686 12th St. A U.S. Coast Guard Color Guard will present the Colors. Contact: Ted Naylor, 541-997-2610

Forest Grove

May 26 – 11 a.m. – American Legion Post 2 and the Oregon Army National Guard 2-218 Field Artillery, HQ Battery will host a ceremony at the Forest View Cemetery, 1161 Pacific Ave. Keynote speaker: Capt. Pete Helzer, Oregon Army National Guard. An Air National Guard flyover has been requested. Contact: Jim Craigg, 503-357-3660

Grande Ronde

May 26 – 8 a.m. – VFW Post 4211, Northwest Indian Veterans’ Association, AMVETS Post 2000, and American Legion Post 75 will conduct Memorial Day services at Grand Ronde Cemetery on Grand Ronde Road.

May 26 – 3 p.m. – Gov. Ted Kulongoski will be the keynote speaker at a ceremony to be held at the Grand Ronde Veterans Memorial, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. VFW Post 4211, Northwest Indian Veterans’ Association, AMVETS Post 2000, and American Legion Post 75 will conduct the services. Names of local war veterans will be added to the memorial. Contact: Carl Lambert 503-879-4222

Grants Pass

May 26 – 11 a.m. – The Marine Corps League will host an all veterans service including a parade of flags and the laying of wreaths. The event will include guest speakers and will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 945 N.E. Hillcrest Drive. Contact: John Woods, 541-479-2707

Hillsboro

May 26 – 11 a.m. – VFW Post 2666 will provide a Color Guard during a ceremony at Fir Lawn Memorial Park, located at 1070 W. Main Street. Oregon Army Air National Guard soldiers will post service branch flags. Guest speaker: Doyle Robertson. A bag piper will play Amazing Grace. Taps will be played. Contact: George Anderson, 971-404-7905

May 26 – 1 p.m. – Valley Memorial Park, 3809 S.E. Tualatin Highway will host a ceremony. Cub Scout Pack 195 will present and retire the colors. Music provided by the Clan Maclay Pipe Band. Guest speaker: State Sen. Bruce Starr. An Air National Guard flyover has been requested. Contact: Dean Markasky, 503-648-5444

Hood River

May 26 – 9:45 a.m. – A parade will proceed south from uptown Hood River on Tucker Road to Idlewild Cemetery. Behind the Walk of Honor, a flagpole flying the U.S. and POW flags will be dedicated. Contact: Patrick Scranton, 541-386-1080

La Pine

May 26 – 11 a.m. – American Legion Post 45 will host a memorial service at the La Pine Community Cemetery, on Reed Road off of Highway 97. Post 45, 52532 Drafter Road. Lunch will be served at an open house at 12 p.m. Contact: Pat Cotton, 541-536-1402

Lebanon

May 26 – 10 a.m. – American Legion Post 51 will display nearly 400 casket flags– donated by veterans’ families–at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery on Highway 20 and Cemetery Road. Each flagpole has a brass plaque bearing the name of the veteran whom the flag honors. Post 51 Honor Guard will fire a gun salute. Contact: Fred Schaefer, 541-258-7453

McMinnville

May 24-26 – The Evergreen Aviation Museum’s weekend celebration will include military aircraft cockpit viewing, presentations by veteran pilots, and guided tours. Call or check the website for updated Memorial Day event information. The museum is located at 500 N.E. Captain Michael King Smith Way, on Highway 18. Contact: Melissa Grace, 503-434-4023. Website: www.sprucegoose.org

Milwaukie

May 24-26 – Milwaukie Pioneer Cemetery Association members will be available at the cemetery to answer questions, help find gravesites and provide information. The cemetery is located at the intersection of Waverly Drive on S.E. 17th Ave.

May 26 – 8:30 a.m. – Boy Scout Troop 143 will conduct the 40th Annual flag raising ceremonies at the cemetery. Flag retirement will be at 4:30 p.m. Check the Association’s website for more information: Contact: Mark Neubauer, 503-659-8087; email; info@milwpioneercem.org; website, www.milwpioneercem.org

Mt. Angel

May 23 – 7 p.m. – American Legionnaires and Boy Scouts will decorate veterans’ graves at Calvary Cemetery, located one-quarter mile north of town on Highway 214, and at eight other area cemeteries.

May 26 – 9:30 a.m. – American Legion Post 89 will host a service in Calvary Cemetery, located one-quarter mile north of town on Highway 214. A memorial wreath will be placed, the Marion County Citizens Band will play patriotic music, and Mass will be celebrated. The Oregon Army National Guard Honor Guard will fire a gun salute. An Oregon Air National Guard flyover has been requested. If there is inclement weather, services will take place in St. Mary Parish Church, 575 E. College Street. Contact: Jerry Lauzon, 503-845-6882

Newberg

May 26 – 11 a.m. – VFW Post 4015 and American Legion Post 57 will host a ceremony and special remembrances at Memorial Park, 4th and Howard Street. The Newberg Police Department Honor Guard will present the flag, read the Roll Call of military members who have died while serving. Laurie Parker will sing the National Anthem and Battle Hymn of the Republic. All donations from a BBQ will be given to a local scout troop and family relief fund. Contact: Don Miller 503-538-6108

Nyssa

May 26 – 11 a.m. – American Legion Post 79 will conduct a memorial service at the Hilltop Cemetery.

May 26 – 11:30 a.m. – American Legion Post 79 will host a service at the city park boat ramp on the Snake River. A wreath will be placed on the water to honor all military members who have lost their lives at sea. Contact: Bill Thomson, 541-889-6649

Ontario

May 26 – 10 a.m. – American Legion Post 67, VFW Post 5452, and the Disabled American Veterans D-Day Chapter 18 will present three memorial services beginning at Evergreen Cemetery located on S. Park Boulevard.

May 26 – 10:30 a.m. – Services will be held at Sunset Cemetery on Sunset Drive, south of S.W. 4th Avenue.

May 26 – 11 a.m. – Services will be held at Meadowbrook Assisted Living Facility, 1372 S.W. 8th Avenue. Contact: Bill Thomson, 541-889-6649

Prineville

May 26 – 10:30 a.m. – American Legion Post 29, VFW Post 1412 and their Auxiliaries will co-sponsor a parade that runs from the Crook County Courthouse to Ochoco Creek Park and the POW/MIA Monument. Afterwards, there will be an Open House at the Vet’s Club, 405 N. Main Street. Contact: Sid Carter, 541-447-5304

Portland

May 24 – 10 a.m. – Skyline Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home, 4101 N.W. Skyline Blvd., will host a ceremony with flag presentations and placement of memorial wreaths. The Ft. Vancouver Pipe Band will play. The Guard’s 2-218th Field Artillery unit will fire a 21-gun salute. Color Guards: VFW Post 4015, American Legion Post 57, and Aloha Boy Scout Troops 290 and 297. An Army National Guard flyover has been requested. Contacts: David Alford/Colleen Combs, 503-292-6611 May 26 – 10 a.m. – Willamette National Cemetery will host their 58th Annual Memorial Day program. A joint military Color Guard will present honors and fire a rifle salute. More than 450 U.S. flags, donated by veterans’ families, will be flown along the Avenue of Flags. Musical selections will be by: “Messenger,” Bravo-Vancouver Chorale, Portland Police Highland Guard, and 234th Army Guard Band. Guest speaker: Lt. Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., Commander, 1st Corps, Fort Lewis, Wash. An Air National Guard flyover has been requested. Contact: George Allen, 503-273-5250

May 26 – 10 a.m. – The names of 801 Oregon Vietnam veterans who were killed during the war will be read at the Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial located in Washington Park near the Metro Park Zoo at 400 S.W. Canyon Road. Canby VFW Post 6057 will post the Colors and join other veterans’ groups in presenting wreaths. An Air National Guard flyover has been requested. Contact: Ron Cannon, 503-819-4228

May 26 – 1 p.m. – The United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. will host a ceremony at the Submarine Memorial at OMSI, on the riverside overlooking the USS Blueback. The names of all U.S. submarines that have been lost and the number of men lost with them– “Tolling of the Boats” –will be read. Sea Cadets will present the Colors. A memorial wreath will be laid followed by a fireboat colored water display. Contact: T. Scott Duncan, 503-318-9664

Redmond

May 26 – 11 a.m. – Redmond Cemetery VFW Post 4108 and American Legion Post 44 will present a ceremony and post Colors at the memorial. Taps will be played. Post 44 will present an Avenue of Flags. The cemetery is located west of Hwy. 97 on Yew Ave., and near the Old Bend-Redmond Highway. Post 4108 and the Boy Scouts will place 1,000 flags on the city’s streets. Contact: Dennis Guthrie, 541-280-5161

Reedsport

May 25 – 4 p.m. – A community BBQ will be served by the Military Order of the Purple Heart at Reedsport High School, 22nd Street and Highway 101.

May 25 – 7 p.m. – The 29 Palms U.S. Marine Air Ground Combat Center Band will present a free concert at Reedsport High School. Tickets are required and are available at Umpqua Bank, Bank of America, or the Reedsport/Winchester Bay Chamber office.

May 26 – 12 p.m. – A parade will proceed on Highway 38 in “Old Town.” The U.S. Army’s Green Beret Skydivers will parachute in to start the Memorial Service (1:30 p.m.) at Hahn Memorial Park. The U.S. Coast Guard will present the colors. The 29 Palms U.S. Marine Band will play patriotic music. Contact: Joe Mirvis, 541-361-9080

Rogue River

May 26 – 11 a.m. – VFW Post 4116 will host a ceremony at the Woodville Cemetery, on Ward Road. The Post’s rifle team will fire a 21-gun salute. Contact: Tom Lazette, 541-582-0490

Roseburg

May 26 – 11 a.m. – Roseburg National Cemetery, on Harvard St., hosts a ceremony. Avenue of Flags placed by Vietnam Veterans Assoc., Oregon Veterans Motorcycle Assoc. Roseburg High School Jr. ROTC Color Guard presents the flags. Guest speaker: Susan Yeager, VA Hospital. VFW District 12 will fire a gun salute, play Taps. An Air National Guard flyover has been requested. A picnic follows ceremonies at Stewart Park. Contact: Dirk Kruysman, 541-673-6341

Salem

May 26 – 11 a.m. – The Greater Salem Area Veterans’ Organizations (GSAVO) will sponsor the 26th annual Memorial Day program at the City View Cemetery, 390 Hoyt St. S. An Army National Guard flyover has been requested. A luncheon will be held afterwards at VFW Post 661, 630 Hood St. N.E. Contact: Bernice Harlan, 503-362-5530

May 26 – 6 p.m. – Girl Scout Troop 5 will conduct a flag retirement ceremony at Lee Mission Cemetery, 2104 D Street. Troop members will properly retire unserviceable flags. Taps will be played. The troop will later collect veteran and clergy flags from gravesites. Contact: Anny Shay, annymango@comcast.net

May 30 (Fri.) – 2 p.m. – A ceremony will honor Oregonians who have been killed in action since November 2007 while serving in support of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their names will be inscribed on the granite wall of the Afghan-Iraqi Freedom Memorial. Oregon Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs Director Jim Willis will be the keynote speaker. An Army National Guard flyover has been requested. The memorial is located on the ODVA grounds at 700 Summer Street N.E. Contact: Robin Steckley, 503-373-2390

Scappoose

May 26 – 10:30 a.m. – VFW Post 4362 and Ladies Auxiliary will host a program at the Scappoose Veteran’s Memorial located in Heritage Park next to the library. An Oregon Air National Guard flyover has been requested. Contact: Ronald A. Urban, 503-543-7482

Sheridan

May 26 – 12 p.m. – VFW Post 4211, Northwest Indian Veterans’ Association, AMVETS Post 2000, and American Legion Post 75 will perform services at the cemetery located near Highway 18. Contact: Carl Lambert, 503-879-4222

Sisters

May 26 –11 a.m. – The Sisters Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 will present the 16th annual ceremony at the Village Green Park on S. Elm Street across from the Sisters/Camp Sherman Fire Hall. The Sisters Veterans Memorial and flagpole will be dedicated. The memorial will be unveiled by Pearl Harbor survivor Harold Mulligan and Post 8138 Commander Phillip Gale. Crook County’s NJROTC will present the Colors and a rifle demonstration. Contact: Phillip Gale, 541-549-6167 or 541-848-1907.

Spray

May 24 – 11 a.m. – Five World War II veterans will be parade Grand Marshals. Oregon Army National Guard soldiers will escort the men in Humvees during the parade and for the rodeo’s grand entry at 1 p.m. Contact: Joann Griffith, 541-468-2442

Springfield

May 26 – 10:15 a.m. – Springfield Memorial Gardens, 7305 Main Street, and the Lane County Memorial Day Association, will host their annual “Salute to Veterans” tribute to honor all veterans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and their families. A memorial will be dedicated to Vietnam War veterans. Keynote speaker: Jim Willis, Director, Oregon Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs. Contact: Gene Drake 746-5311

Terrebonne

May 26 – 9 a.m. – VFW Post 4108 and American Legion Post 44 will present the services at the cemetery. Post members will post the Colors. Taps will be played. Contact: Dennis Guthrie, 541-280-5161

The Dalles

May 26 – American Legion Post 19 and VFW Post 2471 will conduct ceremonies at the following locations that will include posting the Colors, a moment of silence and the playing of Taps.

8:30 a.m. – Wreath laying at the Boat Basin. The Army National Guard will post the Colors and fire a gun salute.

9:30 a.m. – Park Lawn Cemetery located on Three Mile Road.

10:15 a.m. – Columbia Basin Nursing Home, 1015 Webber Road.

11 a.m. – Odd Fellow Cemetery, on Cherry Heights Road.

11:45 a.m. – Kelly View Point Cemetery, at Sorosis Park.

2 p.m. – Oregon Veterans’ Home, 700 Veterans’ Drive.

Contact: Dick Fadness, 509-767-4774

Vale

May 26 – 11 a.m. – American Legion Post 96 will be conducting memorial services at the Valley View Cemetery, 1699 Valley View Road. Contact: Bill Thomson; 541-889-6649

Vernonia

May 26 – 11 a.m. – The Aloha American Legion Post 104 Honor Guard will present the Colors and fire a 21-gun salute during a ceremony at the Vernonia Memorial Cemetery, 2080 Bridge Street. Taps will be played. Contact: Dave Yeo, 503-640-4941

Wallowa County

May 26 – American Legion Wallowa Lake Post 157 will conduct memorial services at the following locations. A Color Guard will fire a rifle salute and Taps will be played:

10:30 a.m. – Alder Slope Pine Tree Cemetery

11 a.m. – Joseph Airport Cemetery

12 p.m. – Prairie Creek Cemetery.

May 26 – VFW Post 4307 and Auxiliary will conduct memorial services at the following locations. A Color Guard will fire a rifle salute and Taps will be played:

9 a.m. – Bramett Cemetery

9:30 a.m. – Wallowa Cemetery

10 a.m. – Lostine Cemetery

11 a.m. – Enterprise Cemetery

Contact: Renee Beaudoin, 541-426-3155, ext. 241

Wasco

May 26 – 10 a.m. – A ceremony with patriotic music will be presented at the Historic Wasco Train Depot at the corner of Clark and Fulton Streets. Guest speaker will be Paul Conway.

May 26 – 11 a.m. – A parade will proceed on Main Street. Wasco American Legion Post 91 will provide the Color Guard. A BBQ will be served afterwards at the train depot. Contact: Paul Conway, 541-565-3408

Willamina

May 26 – 9:30 a.m. – AMVETS Post 2000, VFW Post 4211, NIVA, and American Legion Post 75 will conduct services at the city cemetery located downtown off of Main Street. Contact: Carl Lambert 503-879-4222

Winchester Bay

May 27 (Tue.) – 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Two free outdoor concerts with the 29 Palms U.S. Marine Air Ground Combat Center Band will be at Jason Boe Park (12 p.m.) and at the Sportsman’s Cannery (6 p.m.). A seafood BBQ will be served. Contact: Joe Mirvis, 541-361-9080.