South Whidbey residents will take time this weekend and Monday to show their gratitude to members and former members of the armed forces.

Memorial Day is Monday, and all government offices will be closed. South Whidbey residents can attend several local services and activities to honor fallen soldiers and living veterans as well as the men and women currently in uniform.

Buddy Poppies

Through Memorial Day American Legion Post No. 141 will distribute Buddy Poppies at locations around South Whidbey. The poppies are assembled by disabled veterans. This is the American Legion’s annual fund-raiser and all donations are used to benefit disabled and needy military veterans, and widows and orphans of veterans in each community.

American Legion members will be selling the poppies in Clinton at Food Mart, Ken’s Korner Red Apple, Freeland at Payless Foods and Casey’s Red Apple, and in Langley at the Star Store. For information call Sandy Eley at 321-4910.

Today

Coupeville Memorial Parade

Whidbey’s only Memorial Day parade is in Coupeville today. The parade begins at 11 a.m. near Coupeville High School and crosses Highway 20 on Main Street to Town Park, where a remembrance ceremony will take place. Speakers include Naval Air Station Whidbey Island commanding officer Capt. Steven Black, Pearl Harbor survivor Glenn Lane, and Rev. Mary Boyd of Coupeville United Methodist Church. Following the ceremony everyone is encouraged to to picnic in the park and be entertained by the All-Island Community Band.

Monday

American Legion Post No. 141 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7482 will a host Memorial Day observance at 11 a.m. at Bayview Cemetery. Vietnam veteran and Freeland resident Rocky Knickerbocker will be the speaker, as well as American Legion Post 141 Commander John C. Martin. It will include a 21-gun salute, presentation of the flags by a color guard and “Taps.”

Following the ceremony, the American Legion will host a potluck at the post, at 14096 Highway 525, Bayview. All attending the ceremony are welcome.

Additionally, the American Legion will place flags and Buddy Poppies at the Bayview and Langley cemeteries, and VFW members will do the same at the Clinton cemetery.

Memorial Day services will be held at 11 a.m. at the Clinton Cemetery. Boy Scout Troop 57 and the Daughters of the American Revolution will host. The speaker will be Lt. Cmdr. John Kniseley II of the Navy Reserve. The Scouts will present the colors and play “Taps,” and the Rev. Mikkel Hustad will say the invocation and benediction.