Memorial Day services sponsored by the American Legion’s Colin Hyde Post No. 172 will take place at two locations this year.

Both services are Monday, May 28.

The general public is invited to attend the memorial ceremony at Bainbridge High School, the purpose of which is to “honor our dead, remember the cause for which they fought and to affirm our trust in the future.”

Starting at 10:45 a.m., Legionnaires, Auxiliary and S.A.L. members, local veterans, and the public will gather at the Veterans Memorial Monument at Bainbridge High next to the gymnasium. A very brief service will be conducted and individual members will decorate the area surrounding the monument with flowers and flags, and the public is especially invited to bring flowers for the memorial, as well.

Immediately following this event, the public and all Legionnaires, Auxiliary and S.A.L. members and Boy Scout Troop 1564 are welcome and encouraged to proceed to Post Hall No. 172, located at 7880 NE Bucklin Hill Road, for the main program.

The program will start at 11:30 a.m. and last about half an hour.

The post will especially remember those brave Americans who have been killed or wounded in the war on terrorism.

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 172 will provide refreshments following the program.

Finally, an honor guard from the post-sponsored Boy Scout Troop 1564 will raise the post flag at noon from half staff to full staff, concluding the day’s activities.

Besides their participation in the formal services, Legionnaires will also be responsible for decorating the graves of all known veterans with flags at the five Bainbridge Island cemeteries plus the St. Barnabas interium and the Bethany Lutheran columbarium.

Grave decoration will be on Saturday morning, May 26, and the flags will be removed on Monday evening, May 28. This will allow families to remember their loved ones during the full holiday period.

American flags will be put up along Winslow Way by S.A.L. Squadron No. 172 members on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28.

All Islanders are also urged to display their flags at their homes and businesses to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.