(Update below as of 11:20 a.m. May 16, 2019)
Patriotic music, flag displays, a rifle salute and fly-over will all be part of the 2019
Memorial Day Program at Willamette National Cemetery on May 27 at 10 a.m.
The Memorial Day Program includes “The Oregon Symphonic Band”, “The Portland Police Highland Guard Pipe Band”, a joint color guard to include all branches of the military, advancement of colors by veteran service organizations, vocal selections by “Praise in 3D”, “Union High School Women’s Quartet”, Cannon salute by the Oregon Army National Guard, Keynote speaker, Bradley Phillips, Executive Director, NCA Pacific District, a fly-over by the Oregon Air National Guard and the presentation of a Gold Star Wreath by Gold Star Wives and families.
Attendance is expected to exceed 2,500. The ceremony will be held on cemetery grounds, follow the signs. More than 650 U.S. flags (donated by veterans’ families) will be flown along the Avenue of Flags. State flags will also be displayed.
On Thursday evening, May 23rd, between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. more than 1700 scouts and parents of the Thunderbird Boy Scout District will gather at the cemetery and place small U.S. flags on approximately 148,000 gravesites. Flag placement will be preceded by a special patriotic program, including keynote speaker and band. This is the 51st year of Scout participation in this event. The public is invited to attend.
Willamette National Cemetery is located about 10 miles southeast of Portland, Oregon, straddling the Multnomah and Clackamas County lines. https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/willamette.asp
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