Photo by Rosemarie Alexander.
Memorial Day observances will start at 11 a.m., Monday, at Evergreen Cemetery in downtown Juneau and at Alaska Memorial Park on Riverside Drive in Mendenhall Valley.
The annual events are Juneau’s recognition of the national holiday and a local remembrance.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Taku Post 5559 will host the event at Evergreen Cemetery. Mayor Merrill Sanford will be the keynote speaker.
Auke Bay American Legion Post 25 Commander Dick Hand will officiate at the Alaska Memorial Park observance. Juneau Port Director and retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain Carl Uchytil is the keynote speaker.
Veteran Tim Armstrong says remembrance is the purpose of the events. Though the memorials are relatively short, each is an important observance.
“It’s a way to remember those who have fought and died in the service of their country,” Armstrong says.
On Memorial Day, the American flag should be at half-staff until noon then raised to full staff.
Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was first observed after the American Civil War.
