It’s the signal that summer is coming.
Although there’s still a few weeks of spring left and the local schools are still in session, Memorial Day weekend means that summer’s on its way. And here in Kitsap County, there’s plenty to do this weekend including the Kitsap Harbor Festival, celebrated in both Bremerton and Port Orchard.
Additionally, there’s a number of events planned to honor the real reason for Memorial Day — remembering those who have lost their lives in service to the county.
The Kitsap Harbor Festival will offer lots of family fun on both Saturday and Sunday. In its sixth year, the festival is a combination of events that prior to 2011 happened separately. It was that year that the festivities on Memorial Day weekend in Port Orchard and Bremerton came together, according to organizers.
On Saturday at the Bremerton Boardwalk, beginning at 10 a.m. there will be more than 50 vendors, including great things to eat and drink and local artists selling their wares. There will be entertainment on the boardwalk from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with Carrie Kay singing the National Anthem at 10:30 a.m. Following that, there will be activities for the kids including story time by the Kitsap Regional Library at 11 a.m. and the Venture Crew 1517 and Sound Dive Divers who will bring sea creatures for the kids to touch. At 1 p.m. Synergy Dance company will perform and patriotic music will follow.
Throughout the day, the public can check out the Kids Zone with the Lost Boys Pirates and Pirate Ship, the historic military vehicles on display and for the adults, a beer garden sponsored by the Bremerton Bar and Grill on top of the Pump House.
Arts and crafts booths and food vendors will be on hand again on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Many of the Saturday events will be repeated at the same time on Sunday and Navy Band Northwest “Deception Brass” will play from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Also on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. on the Bremerton waterfront, players from the Kitsap Pumas, Bremerton’s professional soccer team, will demonstrate their soccer skills. Kids who visit the players will get free tickets to upcoming Pumas games.
To view a complete listing of events in both Bremerton and Port Orchard, go to www.kitsapharborfesttival.org.
On Saturday, “The Unforgotten, Run to Tahoma,” ceremony will begin at 10:45 a.m. at the plaza in front of the Kitsap County Administrative Building in Port Orchard. The run only occurs when the county coroner has the remains of at least one unclaimed, deceased veteran in his care. This year, that veteran is Walter L. Brown, who served briefly in the U.S. Army during the mid 1950s. He will be joined by five other veterans submitted by family members or friends: Michael F. Shaughnessy, Norman N. Holgate, Robert J. Brown, Frederick L. Hughes and Kenneth D. Hughes.
All five are Navy veterans. Three served in Vietnam, one in Korea. Walter and Robert Brown are not related, however Robert is well known locally for his role playing of Abraham Lincoln. Frederick and Kenneth Hughes are brothers. Kenneth was also a retired assistant chief of the Bremerton Fire Department.
Veterans with be honored with words, songs and a U.S. Coast Guard fly-by of a MH65 Dolphin helicopter. Following the ceremony, there will be a short break prior to departure to Tahoma National Cemetery. The departed will be carried in a vehicle donated by West Sound Auto Plex. The service is outdoors and those who attend may want to dress appropriately for the weather and bring their own chairs. Coffee and donuts will be served by the USO Mobile Canteen.
To honor the military’s fallen, Memorial Day services have been set throughout the county.
The following are Memorial Day weekend events the community is invited to attend.
Sunday, May 25:
• Miller Woodlawn Cemetery will host a flag ceremony at 8 p.m., at 5505 Kitsap Way in Bremerton. The service will be followed by fireworks.
Monday May 26:
• A wreath laying service will be at the USS Turner Joy DD-951, at 10 a.m. sponsored by the Navy League.
•Sunset Lane Cemetery will host a memorial service by the Port Orchard VFW at 11 a.m.
• Forest Lawn Cemetery has a service at 11 a.m. sponsored by the Fleet Reserve
• A flag raising will take place at noon at 28 parks, monuments, memorials and city halls in Kitsap County to honor veterans.
• There will be a wreath laying 1 p.m., sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars and America Legion at Ivy Green Cemetery, 15th Street and Naval Avenue in Bremerton, at the “Tomb of the Unknowns.”
• A flag retirement ceremony is set for 3 p.m. at NAD Park in Bremerton, followed by a National Moment of Silence.
• Veterans Memorial Park in Old Town Silverdale, will be the location for a flag ceremony at 5 p.m. The Silverdale Rotary Club will sponsor a musical observance from 5 to 6 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Due to the delicate nature of the instruments, the event will be cancelled if it is raining. The Duncan Creek String Quartet will present about 45 minutes of music, followed by a wreath presentation by a group of veterans and the rendering of Taps by Navy Veteran Kent Larraby.
