Whidbey hosts events to honor veterans

Whidbey Island will honor those who have served, including the county’s over 11,000 veterans.

Like every year, Whidbey Island will honor those who have served the country, including Island County’s over 11,000 veterans.

On Nov. 9, CreatiVets is presenting “Nashville Comes to Coupeville,” an 21+ event featuring Nashville songwriters who will perform acoustic pieces about veterans. The show is free of charge and will take place at the Coupeville Rec Hall, and is sponsored by Sage&Sea Ventures with support from the Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association. Veteran-owned business Penn Cove Brewing will sell drinks.

At 11 a.m. on Veterans Day, Coupeville will host its annual remembrance ceremony on the Veterans Plaza at the Island County Courthouse, featuring a flag raising ceremony for each military branch and the POW-MIA flag and the Shifty Sailors, who will sing hymns for each flag. Mayor Molly Hughes will also attend the ceremony and give a speech. About an hour before the beginning of the event, the Central Whidbey Lions Club will offer people flags and name tags for veterans, which will be displayed on the plaza.

At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, South Whidbey residents can attend a Veterans Day Ceremony with a rifle salute at the Bayview Cemetery, hosted by the Marine Corps League.

At the same time, the Oak Harbor Navy League and the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce will hold the 20th annual community Veterans Day ceremony at the Oak Harbor High School auditorium. The event will feature the school’s band and choir, the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps’ Color Guard, and guest speaker Captain J.T. Pianetta — the deputy commodore at Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10.

Later, at 2 p.m., residents can watch the Veterans Day parade on Pioneer Way, organized by the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

At Sunnyside Cemetery near Coupeville, the Whidbey chapter of the Military Officers Association of America will install flags on all veteran graves.