‘Lasting tribute’: Gardiner Cemetery hosts Memorial Day event

GARDINER — On a sunny Memorial Day, American flags blew in a gentle breeze at the Gardiner Cemetery as veterans from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6787 in Carlsborg and Post 4760 in Sequim paid “a lasting tribute of respect for our departed comrades in arms.”

A small group of veterans and their families gathered Monday to remember the sacrifices of those veterans interred at the Gardiner Cemetery and elsewhere around the world.

Chaplin John Dowd led an opening prayer that asked that “those comrades and sisters who have laid down their lives in service to our county rest in peace.”

“May the good work for seeking justice for the oppressed be rewarded with success and their sacrifices may not be in vain,” Dowd said. “May we never forget the awesome cost of freedom which we enjoy.”

VFW Post 6787 Commander Rod Lee reminded those in attendance what Memorial Day stands for.

“The military men and women who perished in combat gave up all their tomorrows so you could enjoy yours” Lee said. “Thanksgiving is the day we pause to give thanks for the things we have. Veterans Day is a day when we honor the living who served in the armed forces. Armed Forces Day is the day we honor those currently serving in the armed forces.

“Memorial Day is the day we pause to give thanks to the people who fought for the freedoms we have and those who died in the service to our nation,” he said. “They never made it out of uniform.”

Lee said that thousands paid the ultimate price so those living today can enjoy the freedoms we have.

“We are assembled to pay a lasting tribute of respect for our departed comrades in arms. When the call of our country was heard, these veterans answered. Self was forgotten for the cause of the greater good.”

U.S. Navy Seabee and Medal of Honor recipient Marvin G. Shields was honored with the laying of a floral wreath and bouquet at his headstone.

Coast Guard veteran Rick McKenzie played bagpipes during the ceremony and veteran Carl Bradshaw of VFW Post 4760 played taps.

Shield’s widow, Joan Shields-Bennett was in attendance and accepted a small art piece that was created by her brother, Bill Campbell of Gardiner.

“I took old silverware and repurposed it,” Campbell said.

He said he made a few “sea bees” and the word got around. He was asked to make 30 for a recent Seabees ball in Bahrain. All are numbered and catalogued, and no two are the same.

Campbell’s “sea bees” are available at Wild Birds Unlimited, 275953 Highway 101 in Sequim.

Other Memorial Day ceremonies took place Monday around the North Olympic Peninsula.

Elsewhere in Jefferson County, ceremonies were also hosted at Fort Worden, Laurel Grove and St. Mary’s cemeteries in Port Townsend.

In Clallam County, ceremonies were held at Sequim View, Jamestown, Blue Mountain and Forks cemeteries.

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Jefferson County Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.