By Tracy Record and Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers

The numbers were daunting … the personal stories heartbreaking yet inspiring.

West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2713 joined forces again today for our area’s official Memorial Day ceremony at Forest Lawn Cemetery (WSB sponsor), a half-hour tribute to those who served and sacrificed.

Atop our story, you can watch video of the entire ceremony, starting just after Forest Lawn’s Hank Kerns welcomed everyone, mentioning the cemetery and funeral home’s 115-year history and commitment to the future.

Post 160 Chaplain Kelly Wadsworth gave the invocation, followed by Post 2713’s Ben Squires with two very personal stories.

He told of the day 66 years ago – June 2, 1951 – when two Marines came to his family’s door to deliver the news that his brother, Sgt. Walter L. Squires, had just been killed in action in Korea. At the time, another brother, Al Squires, had just enlisted in the Marine Corps and was also far from home, training in Southern California. Ben Squires’ memories were clear and painful, of his mother being presented with the telegram announcing her son’s death.

Fifteen years later, he continued, he himself was a “forward observer” in Vietnam – he explained that meant someone who “goes out with the infantry” and if they encounter trouble, they call in reinforcements. While he was out one day, a fellow servicemember was killed by an explosion, just yards away … 19 years old, engaged to be married, less than a month to go before he was scheduled to go home. “It’s hard to imagine, when you see the graves, crosses, and flags” – like those surrounding the ceremony site at Forest Lawn – “each of them has a story.”

The magnitude of the losses was at the heart of the stories told next by Post 160 Commander Keith Hughes, an Army veteran.

After reading the legendary 1915 poem “In Flanders Fields,” he spoke of watching a documentary about the 23 cemeteries overseas where more than 125,000 U.S. servicemembers are buried, and tens of thousands more remembered as missing in action: “Mostly ordinary men and women caught up in the calamity of war,” each withe their own tales of “courage and service …It’s for these heroes that we gather today.”

As Hughes recalled, World War I was supposed to be “the war that ended all wars … tragically, it wasn’t.” The sacrifices continue. He told the stories of U.S. Air Force Capt. Mary Therese Klinker, killed in a plane crash on April 4, 1975, during Operation Babylift, rescuing orphans from South Vietnam, and Green Beret SSgt. Mark De Alencar, killed fighting ISIS in Afghanistan just last month.

Capt. Klinker was 27; SSgt. De Alencar, 37. But the average age of those buried in the overseas cemeteries he had mentioned, Hughes said, was just 20 – “they left us too early … but what they lacked in time, they made up in valor.” He urged support not just for veterans but for their families and the families of those who gave their lives in service.

Also participating in today’s ceremony: Boy Scout Troop 284, singer Ross Hauck (with “America the Beautiful” and the national anthem), and Pete Kirkman and Al Keith with “Dueling Taps.” Before and afterward, the Duwamish Jazz Band entertained at Forest Lawn:

And shortly after the ceremony, Post 160 hosted a cookout at its headquarters in The Triangle:

Members and community volunteers began the day by placing flags along California SW in the heart of the West Seattle Junction.

The flags that line The Junction on holidays like this are there thanks to volunteers – and this morning, West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160 led the crew.

They gathered to retrieve, tote, and place the flags along California SW in the heart of downtown West Seattle.

The volunteers spanned generations – including the youngest volunteer, Ryder.

This is a busy day for Post 160 members – you’ll also see them at the Forest Lawn (6701 30th SW; WSB sponsor) Memorial Day ceremony at 2 pm, and they’re hosting a free community cookout afterward, starting at 3:15 pm at their headquarters in The Triangle, 3618 SW Alaska – all welcome at both events.

P.S. Volunteer help is also welcome for flag removal this afternoon – meet on the northeast corner of California/Alaska at 5 pm.

(Juvenile bald eagle, photographed at Constellation Park by David Hutchinson)

Good morning! Here’s what you need to know this Memorial Day:

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT: No regular traffic report today because of the holiday but you can check local cams here. … Metro buses are on a Sunday schedule … The West Seattle Water Taxi is on a Sunday schedule … Sound Transit Route 560 is not running today … Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on its regular weekday schedule.

OTHER MEMORIAL DAY NOTES: Here’s the Seattle Parks list of what’s open and what’s not … Schools are closed … Seattle Public Library branches are closed … Today is a U.S. Postal Service holiday … If you’re going to a Seattle neighborhood with on-street pay stations/metered parking, there’s no charge today because it’s a city “free parking” day.

What’s happening today:

HELP WITH FLAGS IN THE JUNCTION: American Legion Post 160 invites you to help put up and take down the flags in the West Seattle Junction – meet outside Cupcake Royale on the northeast corner of California/Alaska at 9 am for the morning help and 5 pm for the evening removal.

COLMAN POOL, FINAL DAY OF FIRST PRE-SEASON WEEKEND: Swim sessions noon-7 pm at the city-run outdoor saltwater pool on the shore at Lincoln Park – see the schedule here. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: 1 pm-4 pm (last group admitted at 3:40 pm), it’s the last day of this year’s first weekend of free tours at Alki Point Lighthouse. (3201 Alki SW)

LOW-LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: 2:20 pm brings a -2.5 low-low tide. 1-4 pm, you will find Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists on the shore at Constellation Park (south of Alki Point) and Lincoln Park – look for the signs.

MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY: The traditional ceremony presented by American Legion Post 160 and community partners is at 2 pm this afternoon at Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor), all welcome. (6701 30th SW)

AFTER THE CEREMONY: Post 160 invites you to a community cookout at its headquarters in The Triangle, 3:15-5 pm. (3618 SW Alaska)