Several events — including a first look at Vashon Senior Center’s ongoing restoration of the World War II Memorial Garden located behind the Senior Center — will honor veterans in the coming days.
According to the Veterans Affairs agency, Veterans Day, on Monday, Nov. 11, is a day set aside to honor all those who served honorably in the military — in wartime or peacetime. It is a time to thank living veterans for their service and to underscore the fact that all those who served have sacrificed and done their duty.
On Vashon, weather permitting, flags will fly in the center of town that day, placed by members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
At Vashon Senior Center, the celebration of Veteran’s Day will begin at noon on Friday, Nov. 8, with a hamburger and hot dog cookout, followed by a talk from a representative of Vashon Heritage Museum.
The day will be the first celebration of the Senior Center’s ongoing task to restore its World War II Memorial Garden.
The memorial is the first World War II memorial to be erected in King County, said Maria Glanz, executive director of the Senior Center.
It honors Tom and Ladd Bacchus, island brothers who were killed late during the war. In their honor, the Bacchus family built a memorial behind the first Vashon Library — the building that became the Senior Center in the 1980s.
Over the years, the outdoor memorial plaques and brick wall sadly fell into disrepair, with one of the memorials eventually hidden behind a storage shed.
Now, a restoration of the site is well underway, said Glanz. The shed is gone, and new pavers have been laid by the Eli’s Paver Patios crew. A new outdoor pavilion will be going up this month.
Next up, said Glanz, will be cleaning and restoring the brick walls and memorials themselves, with Vashon Scout Troop 294 planning to help with the first stage of cleaning.
In the spring, there will be new plantings in the garden area, and seating will be installed in the pavilion. A full community celebration will be held at that time, Glanz said.
At 11:45 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, the Senior Center and local Scouts will also host an annual lunch and program to honor Vashon’s veterans.
Reservations are requested for the meals on Friday and Monday and can be made by calling 206-463-5173. There is no charge for Vashon veterans. The regular suggested lunch donation is $6 for members and $10 for non-members.
One other meal and longtime tradition will mark the day, when Vashon Eagles will host an annual free dinner for veterans from 5-6 p.m. on Monday, at the Eagles Club.
