The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs is ready to pay tribute to the state's fallen heroes with an in-person Memorial Day Ceremony on May 27. Scheduled for 11 a.m., the event will take place at the Oregon World War II Memorial right at the heart of Salem, setting the stage for a day of remembrance and respect.
Director Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels of the ODVA and Oregon Adjutant General Alan R. Gronewold will deliver remarks for the occasion, which intends to honor service members from Oregon who have lost their lives across all conflicts and military eras, according to a release from the department. A cadre of veterans, distinguished guests, and state officials are also poised to grace the event, which will feature a color guard ceremony and the sounds of West Salem High School’s a cappella group Soundscape singing the national anthem.
With the theme “Oregon Remembers,” the Memorial Day event seeks to remind attendees of the sacrifices made by military personnel. “Memorial Day, established following the Civil War, is a day when we all pause and remember the more than 1 million men and women throughout history who have given their lives in defense of our nation,” ODVA Director Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels said, per an announcement. Sheronne Blasi, Navy veteran, and ODVA Strategic Partnerships Division Director, will emcee the solemn event.
Memorial Day stands as a communal moment, a collective breath in the hustle of American life where citizens from across the spectrum pause to honor those who have donned the military's cloth and paid the ultimate price, Dr. Daniels asserts that those who serve to enlist not merely for themselves but on behalf of their families and every American, the ODVA announcement highlighted. This year’s ceremony invites Oregonians to come together in a solemn acknowledgment of valor and loss, continuing an age-old tradition of remembrance and gratitude.
For more details on the Statewide Memorial Day Ceremony and to understand the full breadth of the event’s schedule, the public can visit the ODVA’s announcement here.
