Memorial Day ceremonies this weekend: Fort Richardson Cemetery, motorcycle ride to memorial

The Fort Richardson National Cemetery will hold a Memorial Day ceremony on May 27 at noon to honor our nation’s fallen heroes. The event, open to the public, will begin with ceremonial music starting at 11:30 a.m. and concluding at 1 p.m.

The keynote speaker for the ceremony will be Michelle Kwok, the executive director for the National Cemetery Administration’s Pacific District. Her speech is anticipated to be a highlight of the ceremony, offering reflections on the sacrifices made by service members and the significance of Memorial Day.

To ensure smooth access for attendees, the right-hand lane of the Fort Richardson Gate will be dedicated to controlled, direct access to and from the cemetery. Between 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., visitors can enter through this lane without stopping at the Richardson Visitor Control Center to obtain a JBER visitor pass. Attendees will be directed along a specified route to the cemetery parking areas.

Those arriving before 10 a.m. or after 12:15 p.m. will need to follow the usual procedure of obtaining a visitor pass at the Richardson Visitor Control Center.

After the ceremony, guests will exit the installation via the same route they entered.

For those seeking access to the cemetery outside the designated hours on May 27, U.S. citizens aged 16 or older should be prepared for criminal background checks as part of the visitor pass process. Non-U.S. citizens must have a Department of Defense-affiliated sponsor and must request access to JBER four weeks in advance to complete additional screening.

It is important to note that the special direct-access process on May 27 is strictly for attending the Memorial Day ceremony at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery. Attendees are reminded to stay within the designated areas.

Alaska Veterans Memorial, Mile 147.1 Parks Highway

Join motorcyclists as they pay tribute to fallen comrades in arms with a ceremony at the Alaska Veterans Memorial on Sunday, May 26.

Motorcycles will gather at Mary’s McKinley View Lodge, mile 132.5. They will depart in formation at 12:30 p.m. and ride to the Alaska Veteran’s Memorial (147.1, Parks Highway). At 1 p.m. there will be a ceremony honoring the men and women that have paid the ultimate price in service to our country and to each other. Please meet at the memorial if you are not riding in the formation.

Anchorage

Barbecue at American Legion in Anchorage: Veterans and active-duty military members plus a guest are invited to attend a free appreciation barbecue at American Legion Jack Henry Post 1, 840 W Fireweed Lane on May 27, 12:30 – 3 p.m. This event is open to any veteran, you do not need to be a member of the American Legion or Nuvision Alaska, the sponsor, to attend but registration is required. Website here.

• Free BBQ lunch catered by Peppercini’s
• Live Music from Nothin’ but Trouble
• Spending time with fellow veterans
• A special Memorial Day Ceremony presented by the American Legion and Nuvision

Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Homer-Ninilchik

On Memorial Day, the  Virl “Pa” Haga VFW Post 10221 VFW will hold services at three local cemeteries for fallen service members. The day starts at the Homer Cemetery at 10 a.m., moves to the Anchor Point Cemetery at noon, and then the and at the Ninilchik Cemetery at 2 p.m.

Kenai

City of Kenai and American Legion Post 20 honor our fallen service members on Monday. Activities begin at 11 a.m. at the Kenai City Cemetery, 840 First Avenue in Kenai and continue at 1 p.m. at the Leif Hanson Memorial Park, 10959 Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai.

Fairbanks

There are two significant Memorial Day events in the Fairbanks community on Monday, according to Fort Wainwright. The first is a series of ceremonies hosted by the VFW at local memorial sites and cemetaries, with the first of five starting at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park. The other event is a ceremony at Pioneer Park at noon that will honor Fort Wainwright soldiers SPC Jeremy Evans and SPC Joshua Snowden. All events are free and open to the public.

Delta Junction – Fort Greely

The Delta Junction Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10450 and American Legion Post 22 are hosting the annual Memorial Day Ceremony Monday at Rest Haven Cemetery, beginning at Noon.

Speakers include U.S. Army Garrison Fort Greely Commander Lt. Col. Keith Marshall, 49th Missile Defense Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Jorge Lorenzana, and Grand Master of Prince Hall Masons, Abdullah Mustapha-Thomas.

Help complete this listing

Some communities have not publicized their ceremonies widely; if you know of one, please put the information in the comment section below. Thanks.