Memorial Day events around the county

COLFAX — Cemeteries across the county will fly the flag in remembrance of service men and women who gave their lives for their country.

The annual Colfax event will be held at 10 a.m. at the cemetery, 804 State Route 272.

Resident funeral director and longtime volunteer Craig Corbeill said they the call the program put on by the FFA students the Flag Program.

Corbeill said that the program has happened for over 20 years, and that this year’s program will start with a service led by Pastor Bob Engles with singing provided by Craig and Kristina Willson.

The ceremony is open to everyone, and will honor veterans. Corbeill said there is a display of approximately 315 full size American flags, as well as small flags adorning all the grave of all the veterans.

“I’m thankful for the help of many volunteers who worked behind the scenes each and every year to put this on for the community,” said Corbeill. “It definitely isn’t just me. There’s a lot that goes into it and it’s getting harder to find people to help.”

The Garfield Cemetery will hold a wreath laying and honors ceremony at 11 a.m. on Monday.

In Washtucna, a Memorial Day observance is planned for 10 a.m., Monday, May 27.

The short observance will take place at Washtucna Pioneer Memorial Cemetery on Austin Road.

Organizers suggest bringing a chair.

While other cemeteries may not have a program they will still be honoring those that made a sacrifice for their fellow countrymen.

Oakesdale Cemetery District No. 1 Chairman Kari Ellis said that they will have their regular observance with people bringing in flowers and visiting the graves.

Ellis asks that those who come not bring glass jars or vases into the cemetery, and that all flowers must be picked by June 16. “Please limit the amount of lighted decorations,” she said, noting that it is a hazard for their mowers.

Endicott will also put flags out in the cemetery to honor those who bravely gave their lives. “We put flags of each branch of the service out, along with alternating American flags,” said Secretary of the Endicott Cemetery Steve Laurens, adding that they also mark each veteran’s grave with a flag.

Chair of the St. John cemetery David Hamilton said that they will also stick flags out, and that people can put flowers on the graves of those that served.

The Farmington cemetery will tidy up Mountain View Cemetery and put up flags, said Farmington Mountain View Cemetery Board member Wes Wagner.

Wagner said that they will also have an updated book that visitors can use to locate anyone buried in the cemetery. “The book also lists the veterans,” he said.

Board Member of the Pine City Historical Society Teresa Brown said that the Kenova Grant at Pine City will also be open to the public at noon, on Memorial Day, May 27, followed by the annual Historical Society meeting at 1:30 p.m.

In addition to honoring those who gave their lives there will be several closures in observance of the holiday, including county offices, the Whitman County Gazette, post offices and banks.

All fourteen branches of the Whitman County Library will also be closed in observance of Memorial Day.