Legion Post to honor vets

Iraq veteran Staff Sgt. Patrick Mann and Afghanistan veteran 1st Sgt. Tim Harris will be guest speakers at Memorial Day services sponsored by American Legion Colin Hyde Post No. 172 on May 28.

The public is invited to a memorial ceremony at the Bainbridge High School Memorial at 10:45 a.m., to “honor our dead, remember the cause for which they fought and affirm our trust in the future.” The public is invited to bring flowers to decorate the area surrounding the monument.

Immediately following this event, Legionnaires, Auxiliary and S.A.L members and guests will proceed to the Post Hall on Bucklin Hill Road for the main program, which starts at 11:15 a.m.

An honor guard from Boy Scout Troop No. 1564 will raise the post flag at 12 p.m..

All Iraq and Afghanistan veterans “on or from” Bainbridge Island and their families are invited to the events.

Legionnaires will also decorate with flags the graves of known veterans this morning, to honor them through the holiday weekend. American flags will be put up along Winslow Way. Islanders are urged to display flags at their homes and businesses.

Since 2001, 385 American service members have died in military operations in Afghanistan and the Philippines, and 3,388 in the Middle East, the post said.

For information on Memorial Day activities, contact Bill Beck at 842-6839.

Bless the boats (and the sailors)

Boating season opens with a bang this year, or more accurately, a squirt.

For the sixth year running, the Chandlery will host an opening day family celebration with a swap meet, dinghy races, Captain Bob’s disco dance and a pot-luck barbecue.

“It’s the traditional kick-off to the boating season,” Chandlery owner Bob Schoonmaker said. “So I’m hoping to have a whole bunch of people down here celebrating the fact that they live on an island and own boats.”

Opening day in Seattle was May 5, but Schoonmaker opted to hold the celebration this weekend to help celebrate Memorial Day and to increase the likelihood of warmth and fair skies.

“My favorite part is the squirtgun fight,” Schoonmaker said. “I’ll be out there for hours. It’s great opportunity for us all to be kids again.”

The day’s shenanigans will be punctuated by a more reverent event.

After a welcome by Schoonmaker and Captain Phil Shiveley, Father Emmett Carroll of St. Cecilia Catholic Church will officiate a blessing of the boats and a prayer for those lost at sea. Attendees can join in the singing of the Navy Hymn and cast flowers for friends and loved ones.

All events take place at the Chandlery at Winslow Wharf today:

• The swap meet runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Dinghy races start at 1 p.m.

• The blessing of the Boats begins at 1:30 p.m.

• The barbecue starts at 2:30 p.m. Bring a dish to share; Schoonmaker and crew will provide dogs, burgers and hot coals.

-Lindsay Latimore