The theme of this year’s Patriot Day Picnic is “A Time to Remember,” and will honor those who died and those whose lives were forever changed by injuries and loss of loved ones during the horrific attack of 9/11.

The South Whidbey Republican Women will host their annual picnic from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at Clinton Community Hall.

Herb Meyer, who served during the Reagan Administration as special assistant to the director of Central Intelligence Agency and vice chairman of the CIA’s National Intelligence Council, will be the keynote speaker. Meyer holds the U.S. National Intelligence Distinguished Service medal, which is the intelligence community’s highest honor.

Also making special appearances will be 10th District lawmaker Rep. Barbara Bailey, Island County Sheriff Mark Brown, County Commissioner Kelly Emerson, County Assessor Mary Engle and Jeff Lauderdale, a candidate for the District 1 county commissioner position.

This year’s event features a picnic buffet, dessert and silent auctions.

In addition to desserts, the silent auction boasts a one-hour “flight-seeing” tour in a twin-engine Cessna departing from the winner’s choice of airport (Paine Field, Oak Harbor or Arlington) and two hours of introductory handgun instruction from a current Super Senior World Champion who competes all over the western United States and the European Championships in Holland. Other unique items will be up for auction, including framed wildlife photographs by internationally known photographers Keith and Antje Gunnar, and a trip for two on a high-speed catamaran to Victoria, B.C.

The picnic is open to the public. The cost per person is $25; RSVP by calling 341-2418 or email czarina@whidbey.com.