Memorial Day commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. In other words, the purpose of Memorial Day is to memorialize the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We spend time remembering those who lost their lives and could not come home, reflecting on their service and why we have the freedom that we enjoy today. This photo was taken at the Veterans Memorial Plaza at Anacortes High School, designed by architect Brooks Middleton. (Note: To see photographs from past Memorial Day events in Anacortes, type “Memorial Day” into the search engine on the homepage of AnacortesToday.com)