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Military

A day to remember and honor: Here’s a rundown of Memorial Day events in Anchorage, Mat-Su

By Anchorage Daily News
Updated: May 30, 2023 Published: May 28, 2023

Rebecca Guerrero, right, rinses after scrubbing a grave marker for U.S. Air Force Major Joe Armstrong who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, as Orelvis Ibarra, left, removed grass and sod from an overgrown grave marker for World War I veteran U.S. Army Corporal Don Duffy, Sr. interred at the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery on Sunday, May 28, 2023. "I just love to serve," said Alaska Air National Guard veteran Ibarra. "We come here and we don't forget their service." (Bill Roth / ADN)

Here’s a rundown of Memorial Day services and events in the Anchorage area:

Monday

Anchorage Remembers Memorial Day service, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, Delaney Park Strip at Ninth Avenue and I Street

Hosted by the Municipality of Anchorage, the event honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The schedule includes speakers, wreath-laying to remember fallen service members, patriotic music and ceremonies taking place at the Veterans Memorial on the Delaney Park Strip. The event is free and open to the public.

A ceremony at the Park Strip will also honor Pvt. George Fox, an Unangan killed in World War II who only recently received military honors, and whose name has just been added to the Alaskans Fallen in World War II memorial wall.

Jonathan Szymanski and his father Steve Szymanski placed U.S. flags at gravesites of veterans interred at the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery on Sunday, May 28, 2023. American Legion Jack Henry Post 1 provided crosses and poppies to be placed at veterans gravesites and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Captain James G. Lee Memorial Post 1685 provided the U.S. flags to be placed in preparation for Memorial Day on Monday. Nuvision Credit Union organized a group of volunteers who cleaned headstones and removed grass and sod from overgrown grave markers. "We do this every year to honor the fallen and thank them for their sacrifice," said U.S. Air Force veteran Steve Szymanski. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Fort Richardson National Cemetery Memorial Day ceremony, noon Monday, 58-512 Davis Highway on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

Pre-ceremonial music begins at 11:30 a.m. and the ceremony starts at noon. Preregistration for Memorial Day access is over, but those seeking base access for the ceremony may visit the Richardson Visitor Control Center between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday for same-day vetting to receive a pass. Passes allow access for Monday, to and from the Fort Richardson National Cemetery, and for the official Memorial Day ceremony only.

Headstones at Fort Richardson National Cemetery on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Monday, May 30, 2022. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Mat-Su Veterans Wall of Honor Memorial Day ceremony, 1 p.m. Monday, 801 Wasilla-Fishhook Road in Wasilla

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The 11th Airborne Division Band will perform starting at 12:30 p.m. before the Mat-Su Veterans Wall of Honor ceremony, which begins at 1 p.m. Before that, you can join the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9365 at 10:30 a.m. for a walk from the Veterans Wall of Honor to the Wasilla Cemetery, where a memorial service starts at 11 a.m. After the wall remembrance, the VFW Post 9365 will host a barbecue and open house at 2 p.m.

Veterans Appreciation BBQ, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday, American Legion Jack Henry Post 1, 840 W. Fireweed Lane in Anchorage

Nuvision Credit Union Alaska, American Legion Jack Henry Post 1, Elevated Oats and Nothin’ But Trouble are joining forces to serve local veterans and active-duty military to a free lunch. It’s an opportunity to come together to celebrate your service, honor the fallen and enjoy some great company. No membership is required and one additional guest is allowed per attendee. Bring your military ID.

Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery on Sunday, May 28, 2023. American Legion Jack Henry Post 1 provided crosses and poppies to be placed at veterans gravesites and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Captain James G. Lee Memorial Post 1685 provided the U.S. flags to be placed in preparation for Memorial Day on Monday (Bill Roth / ADN)

Rebecca Guerrero placed a penny on a veterans grave marker in the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery after she cleaned it on Sunday, May 28, 2023. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Army Sgt. Nathan Winter with the 3-509th at JBER and his fiancée Sophie Novak cleaned a headstone at Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery on Sunday, May 28, 2023. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Flags and poppies were placed on the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery columbarium to honor veterans on Sunday, May 28, 2023. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Memorial Day
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