Islanders will gather to honor the nation’s fallen veterans at a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Vashon Cemetery.

The solemn service will take place against the backdrop of Vashon Cemetery’s War Memorial, which has stood for more than a century, commemorating those who have died in conflicts dating back to 1861.

Moderated by Vashon veteran Ryan Shannon and capped by an address by Nancy Bachant on behalf of Gold Star families and World War II orphans.

Bachant and her sisters Karen and Janet — a set of triplets — were born in March of 1944, just months before their father, Herbert Bachant, died near Rennes, in France, when German fire hit his military vehicle. Shortly after his death, Nancy and her sisters came to be known as the Bachant Triplets and were featured in newspapers across the country with their mother, who had been widowed at just 22 years old.

The story of the family’s sacrifice is now part of the permanent collection on display in the Liberation Pavilion of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.

The Memorial Day service will include the presentation of wreaths by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Hero Quilts, Vashon Scouts, the Eagles, Masons, Rotary Club, and the Sportsmen’s Club, and also feature a short program by Vashon’s Judd Creek Gospel Singers.

Mike Mattingly, commander of Vashon’s chapter of the American Legion, confirmed that Vashon’s Scout Troupe 294 and Cub Scout Pack 275 will make preparations for the ceremony on Saturday, fulfilling their yearly duty to place small American flags on the final resting places of the now almost 700 veterans who are buried there. And on Monday, the scouts will return, to participate in the color guard and presentation of the flags.

Members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, assisted by local volunteers, will also place flags in Vashon’s town center, beginning at 6 a.m. on Monday.