VIDEO: Why it’s OK to say ‘Happy Memorial Day,’ explained at Forest Lawn ceremony

| Holidays | West Seattle news

Memorial Day can be joyful as well as somber. A local veteran offered that assurance during the traditional remembrance ceremony at Forest Lawn Cemetery (WSB sponsor) this afternoon. Above, our video includes the 17-minute event in its entirety, including a chaplain’s opening prayer that “peace (will) prevail among nations” and music by young participants – Searely Camarillo-Gonzalez sang the national anthem and “America the Beautiful”:

Scout Whit Linxweiler bugled “Taps”:

American Legion Post 160 commander Keith Hughes observed that this is a day to offer thanks:

And VFW Post 2713 commander Steve Strand said it’s OK to wish people a “Happy Memorial Day” – saying it’s a day “to do all the things you have the right to do and the freedom to do” because of those who sacrificed their lives, including two friends he lost in Iraq a decade-plus ago:

“Love your life, enjoy your life – make the sacrifices of others worth it,” he exhorted.

At the conclusion, after a release of doves and retiring of the colors, words of thanks from Forest Lawn’s K.C. Engle:

And the Duwamish Jazz Band played classics as attendees moved on to the rest of their holiday afternoon.

Duwamish Jazz playing after the Forest Lawn ceremony. pic.twitter.com/wjSwi00K10

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) May 27, 2019

mark May 27, 2019 (8:33 pm)

Go ahead and wave your flag with nary a thought of the veterans that would rollover in their grave if privy to the reality of what is today just a remnant of the urgency of WWII. Peace (will) prevail among nations”island has been the hope of we the people. Just don’t apologize for the “leaders” and their justification for the patriotic “war on terror’ that was neither and cost the lives of thousands of warriors and millions of civilians around the world in the name of control for the good of the masses but, instead enabled the super-rich to profit and become obscenely so at the expense of the warriors’ families with no end in sight as the environment is sacrificed also for “the good of the people”. Sobering, today and everyday. Take some time to study the reality of the build up to the war in Iraq and most other “conflicts” since WWII and ‘endless war” is a thing

Army Vet May 27, 2019 (10:38 pm)

Awesome job Whit! We appreciate your tribute to men and women who have given their lives to support our country!

Hope May 28, 2019 (3:34 am)

Thank you, veterans – those who were lost and those who survived. Sadly, I think Mark is right, but that doesn’t diminish the respect we have for our brave servicemen and women.

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