Your Overview to…
The 45th Annual Festival of Flags,
Our Region’s Largest Memorial Day Celebration,
Presenting a Stirring Tribute to the “Guardians of America”
Experience a stirring Three-Part tribute to “The Guardians of America,” those actively protecting our country, at the 45th Annual Festival of Flags, Monday, May 31, 1:00-4:00 PM, at Moles Greenacres Memorial Park in Ferndale.
According to Speaker Jerry Stewart of the nationwide radio program One Moment in America,
“If you have never been to this event, please grab up your children, your grandchildren, and come. But be prepared and know this - this Festival of Flags memorial event will change you, it will break your heart, it will swell your heart with pride, it will stir you so deeply inside that you will never get over it - I never have."
New this year will be the opportunity to meet nine Pearl Harbor survivors and see the arrival of the American flag from a Department of Homeland Security helicopter.
Originated by the Albert J. Hamilton American Legion Post 7, the Festival has grown to become the largest Memorial Day Weekend event in Northwest Washington.
The Three-Part Festival on Monday, May 31, will feature a 1:00 Pre-Festival Concert, the 2:00 Festival, and a 3:00 Post-Festival Celebration; 1400 flags will fly in the Park throughout the weekend. All events will be at Moles Greenacres (corner of Northwest and Axton, Ferndale).
Details include:
1:00 Festival Music
Featuring:
The New Originals, Bellingham High School Alumni’s Brassworks Quintet, and the Ferndale High School Drum Line.
2:00 Remembrance Ceremony
Featuring:
Veterans Family Processional featuring the Albert J. Hamilton American Legion Post 7, WA Army National Guard Honor Guard, and Bellingham Pipe Band (celebrating its 50th anniversary as North America’s oldest continuing pipe band), Keynote Speaker Jerry Stewart (host of the national radio program, One Moment in America), Emcee and talk show host Debbie Chavez (The Debbie Chavez Show), Department of Homeland Security Helicopter Flag Arrival/Flag Raising by Matt Aamot (in honor of his brother, Aaron Aamot of the 5th Stryker Brigade (Afghanistan), Military Honors Presentations/Dove Release, Wreath Ceremony by the Albert J. Hamilton American Legion Past 7 Auxiliary, Invocation by Lynden’s Lt. Col. Mike Kirkelie, U.S. Army Ret’d., Singing of the National Anthem by Oak Harbor’s classical tenor Paul Kuzina, and a family honors ceremony with active duty troops.
3:00 Festival Reception
Featuring:
A concert by the 24 member Bellingham Youth Jazz Band Concert; free refreshments from Hempler’s Hot Dogs, Franz Bakery, The Woods Coffee and the Hilltop Restaurant; Pearl Harbor Survivor Autograph Session; Burchenwald Survivor and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal-DFC, Joe Moser; Kids' Activity; and many Thank-A-Vet opportunities.
Throughout Memorial Day Weekend - the Avenue of Flags will feature over 1,400 Veterans’ Flags lining the paths of Greenacres Memorial Park in Ferndale
According to Festival Host John W. Moles, “The Festival of Flags is proud to reclaim the true meaning of Memorial Day and to provide a yearly tradition for the entire family. This year we stand in respect and honor as we remember those individuals who are sacrificing for each of us in our current wars around the world.”
The Avenue of Flags
At the Festival of Flags
The Albert J. Hamilton American Legion Post 7 Avenue of Flags, hosted by Moles Greenacres Memorial Park, began back in 1965 when 48 flags were donated to honor military service veterans who died. The Avenue of Flags, active throughout Memorial Day Weekend, is the largest display in Northwest Washington and the fourth largest display in Washington State. It is a stirring part of the annual Festival of Flags hosted on Memorial Day itself. The Avenue continues to grow as new families donate flags each year.
The flags, which now number over 1,400, are ones that were presented to the veteran’s next of kin on behalf of the President of the United States. The family then donates the flag to Moles Greenacresto be flown on the Avenue during Memorial Day Weekend. Each flag identifies the veteran honored with a small brass plaque on the flagpole, and carries special meaning to the surviving family members.
The Avenue of Flags is a patriotic and breathtaking display, one in which the team at Moles Greenacres believes to be of utmost importance in providing much-earned recognition and honor.
Wreath Ceremony
The gift of flowers at a memorial site occurs around the world and is understood in every culture. Floral tributes at funerals bespeak both the beauty and the brevity of life and evoke memories of other days. These sorts of offerings are made every day at funerals, cemeteries in our Nation, and in solitary communion with a departed loved one. The ritual laying of flowers or a wreath are frequently part of annual observances by veteran groups or other organizations, making sure that mass casualties are not forgotten.
Here the wreath is being placed by the American Legion Auxiliary, Albert J. Hamilton Post #7. This wreath contains poppies made by disabled and hospitalized veterans. The poppy has become a world wide recognized symbol of sacrifice and is worn to honor the men and women who served and died for their country in all wars, including the Global War on Terror. The poppy reminds communities and this nation of the sacrifices and continuing needs of our veterans and service members.
The poppy become a symbol of sacrifice in response to Col. John McCrae’s famous poem, “In Flanders Field”.
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Thank you for visiting. We are in the process of updating our site with your invitation to the 2011 Festival of Flags. Our main page features an overview of the 2011 three part festival, but you will still see 2010 information at the top of the page (including last year’s date) and on our other pages until the conversion to 2011 is complete. In the meantime, please call us with any questions at 360-384-3401. Thank you, and hope to see you on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2011!
