Veterans Day events in Anacortes

Veterans Day 2011 in Anacortes, Washington, was a big deal, as evidence by no fewer than six separate events scheduled over a two-day period. Those events included school assemblies on Thursday, November 11, as Friday was a school holiday. Today’s events included a two-part community service that began at historic Causland Park in downtown Anacortes. A second half of that event took place at the Port of Anacortes Event Center, located on the Guemes Channel. Following a 45-minute ceremony inside, the crowd moved to dock’s edge where a ceremonial wreath was tossed into the water. Another element of the ceremony was a flyover by a P3 Orion aircraft flying out of nearby NAS Whidbey. This year’s ceremony noted in particular the service of WWII veterans, and the celebration of U.S. Naval Aviation’s Centennial.