Local groups plan Memorial Day commemorations

Memorial Day weekend in Camas and Washougal will feature several remembrances and tributes. Originally called Decoration Day, it is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Fern Prairie Cemetery Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4278 will conduct a ceremony Saturday, at 11 a.m., at the Fern Prairie Cemetery, 25700 N.E. Robinson Road, Camas. The names of soldiers buried at the cemetery will be read aloud. In 2013, there were 144 names. Refreshments will be served, and genealogy books will be available to view. Cemetery board members and volunteers will be available to answer questions Saturday, Sunday and Monday, from 9 a.m. to dusk. For more information, contact Cemetery Secretary Eileen Abernathy at 833-9176 or 852-4103 or Post 4278 Chaplain Dale Dutter at 834-2498. Cub Scouts will host lunch for veterans Veterans are invited to a luncheon organized by Cub Scout Pack 424. The event will be held Saturday, at Camas United Methodist Church, 706 N.E. 14th Ave. Chili and spaghetti will be served at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. Veterans will eat free of charge. The cost for others will be $5 per person or $20 per family. For more information, email pack424@gmx.com. Camas Cemetery A flag ceremony, involving Boy Scout Troop 562, will be held Monday, at 9 a.m., at the Camas Cemetery, 630 N.E. Oak St. Members of VFW Post 4278 will supervise Cub Scout Pack 424 and 610 as the scouts place small flags at each veteran's grave site Saturday, at 2 p.m. A master list of all veterans buried at the Camas Cemetery is maintained and updated by Gary and Linda Dowler. Last year, there were more than 750 names on that list. Forty-five American flags, 13 state flags and five service flags will be placed Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings and taken down in the afternoon. Members of the Friends of the Cemetery will be available next to the cemetery office to answer questions and help people find grave sites Saturday, Sunday and Monday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A city employee will also be at the site. Coffee and cookies will be served. Cemetery vases will be available for a donation. Volunteers from the Friends of the Cemetery, as well as members of NorthLake Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recently pulled weeds, raked and cleaned around the grave sites, the mausoleum and the columbariums. "People have taken time and put in effort," said Eunice Abrahamsen, a volunteer with the Friends of the Cemetery. "We want to be proud of our cemetery." For more information, call the cemetery at 834-4220 or Camas City Hall at 834-6864. Washougal Memorial Cemetery Washougal Mayor Sean Guard will be among the speakers at a ceremony Monday, at 11 a.m., at the Washougal Memorial Cemetery, 3329 "Q" St. The observance will be presented by American Legion Cape Horn Post 122. The city of Washougal is helping to coordinate the ceremony. The program will be hosted by Post Commander David Stanton, with military honors provided by the Post Honor Guard led by Sgt. of the Guard Jim Martin. The national colors will be presented by VFW Post 4278. Commemorative wreaths will be presented by representatives of a variety of organizations including Spanish American War Veterans, World War I Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Navy Mothers, Gold Star Mothers, Vietnam Veterans, The Order of the Silver Rose and VFW Auxiliary. Refreshments will be provided by the Washougal Cemetery Board. Donations toward cemetery improvement projects are welcome. Board members will be on site Monday to provide assistance with locating grave sites. For more information, call Ted Fuller, a member of Post 122, at 837-3470. Mount Pleasant Cemetery The Mount Pleasant Cemetery, located at 111 Marble Road in Skamania County, is open daily from dawn to dusk. The cemetery, which can be found off of Highway 14 at milepost 23, includes the grave sites of more than 70 pioneers. Handicapped accessible parking is available adjacent to the cemetery, at the top of the hill. The cemetery is owned by Ted and Kris Gowan. For more information, call (971) 533-1382. Vancouver Barracks The Community Military Appreciation Committee will present a Memorial Day Observance Monday, at 11 a.m., at the Vancouver Barracks on the Fort Vancouver Historic Site, 600 E. Hatheway Road, Vancouver. Col. Richard W. Wedan, commander for the 142nd Fighter Wing in Portland, will be the keynote speaker. Other speakers will include U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler (R-Camas), Vancouver Mayor Timothy Leavitt, National Park Service Supt. Tracy Fortmann and Lt. Col. J.D. Litton, deputy commander, Second Brigade, 95th Division, Vancouver Armed Forces Reserve Center. CMAC has organized this event, with help from the City of Vancouver, the National Park Service, Fort Vancouver National Trust, Armed Forces Reserve Center and 40 et 8, for six years. The observance, sponsored by Waste Connections, will be emceed by CMAC members. CMAC is composed of individuals representing youth, education, civic, military, veterans groups and local governments. For more information, call Larry Smith, co-chairman of the CMAC, at 910-8656, email vancouvertiger@comcast.net or visit www.cmac11.com.

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