Edmonds College to host Memorial Day Ceremony on Tuesday, May 19
05/06/26
Edmonds College will honor the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice at its 13th annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Tuesday, May 19. The event, themed “Forever Grateful,” invites the community to gather in person at the Black Box Theatre at 2 p.m. or join via a live stream.
“Our ‘Forever Grateful’ theme represents a strategic commitment to preserving the stories of the men and women who secured our freedoms,” said Matthew Durkee, Edmonds College Director of Veteran Resources. “By honoring their legacy, we foster a community that deeply understands the cost of service. This remembrance ensures that the torch of liberty remains a guiding light for the next generation of leaders.”
Durkee will emcee the ceremony alongside Black Box Theatre Director Rachel Klem and student veterans Ivory Miller and Koleman Meltzer.
Vietnam veteran Dennis Gibb will deliver the keynote address. A former U.S. Army Field Artillery Officer and helicopter pilot, Gibb earned a Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam. Today, he continues his mission of service at Edmonds College, where he developed a vital program to support justice-involved veterans and their families during their transition back to civilian life.
The ceremony features several solemn traditions, including a presentation of the colors, a photographic tribute to the fallen, the presentation of the battlefield cross, and a formal wreath-laying.
Admission to the event is free and open to the public, but we recommend that attendees pre-register. A live stream of the event will also be available. Attendees are invited to meet inside the lobby of the Black Box Theatre for refreshments and a meet-and-greet before the ceremony, starting at 1:30 p.m.