Memorial Day 06

About 50 people including a dozen or so veterans gathered at Grand View Cemetery in Anacortes Monday for a brief service conducted by members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Services were also held on Guemes Island and at Fern Hill Cemetery on Highway 20. Pictured here is Dr. Bud Strom, a WWII veteran and one-time Anacortes mayor. Strom spoke about the importance of recognizing the sacrifices of those who have served in wars, past and present. On the far right is Bud Lane. Also pictured are singer Betsy Mosley, who sang “America the Beautiful” and Cindy Luna, a Mount Vernon resident who joined the veterans groups to play Taps. WWII veteran Wallace Wilson Staflin salutes during the playing of Taps. He was accompanied to the event by his daughter Rhonda Hirata, visiting from her home in Maryland.