Alaska Life

Here’s where you can attend Memorial Day ceremonies around Southcentral Alaska and Fairbanks

Here are Memorial Day ceremonies around Southcentral this holiday weekend.

Anchorage

– The Municipality of Anchorage is hosting an event downtown that will include patriotic music and the laying of wreaths to honor the fallen. Speakers will include Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz and Air Force Lt. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of the Alaskan Command and 11th Air Force. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Monday at the Delaney Park Strip memorial, West Ninth Avenue and I Street. (Note: this year's event will start a half-hour earlier than in years past)

– The 45-member College of Ozarks Chapel Choir will perform during a ceremony in the Anchorage Memorial Park downtown hosted by the Pioneers of Alaska. The names of 27 men and 21 women, representing the Pioneers of Alaska from Men's Igloo 15 and Women's Igloo 4, will be read and the service will conclude with a performance of taps. 11 a.m. Monday in Anchorage Memorial Park (535 E. Ninth Ave.)

The Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with families gathering to tend grave sites and gather on Memorial Day. Note that "balloons, barbecues, games, glass and pets" are prohibited from cemetery grounds.

– A ceremony at Fort Richardson National Cemetery will include Col. John "Jimmy Joe" James, commander 49th BDE, Alaska State Defense Force, as guest speaker and 1st Sgt. David "Diesel" Foli, U.S. Army retired, as master of ceremony. Music will be performed by the Midnight Sons Chorus and the Glacier Brass. U.S. Marines will be on hand for the color guard and the U.S. Army for a rifle salute. Preliminary music will begin at 11:30 a.m. and the service will begin at 12 p.m. Monday. The service will conclude with a performance of taps. Civilians may access the JBER-Richardson main entrance. (Note: If allow time to get on base if you're coming from outside. Dogs and other animals are not allowed unless they are service animals. Blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged as seating is limited, but picnics are not allowed on the grounds.)

Mat-Su

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There will be an honor ceremony at 1 p.m. Monday at the Veterans Wall of Honor next to the Mat-Su Visitors Center in Palmer, Mile 35.5 Parks Highway. Starting at 2 p.m., there will be a Memorial Day barbecue and celebration at American Legion Post 15. (1550 S. Mystic Circle)

Lower Kenai Peninsula

According to the Homer News, ceremonies will be held by American Legion Post 16, Homer, American Legion Post 19, Ninilchik, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10221, Anchor Point at the following times and places:

• 10 a.m. Monday at Hickerson Memorial Cemetery, Homer

• Noon Monday at the Anchor Point Cemetery

• 2 p.m. Monday at the Ninilchik Cemetery

The public is invited to attend.

Fairbanks

Veterans' organizations will be hosting the annual services on Monday. They are as follows:

Veteran's Memorial Park Services at 11:00 a.m.

Clay Street Cemetery Services at 11:45 a.m.

Birch Hill Cemetery Services at 12:30 p.m.

Northern Lights Cemetery Services at 1:30 p.m.

Golden Heart Park Services at 2:30 p.m.

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