American Legion members Ray Nickleson (left), Joe Coup, and Alvin Diaz leave the Kenai Cemetery after participating in a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 29, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

American Legion members Ray Nickleson (left), Joe Coup, and Alvin Diaz leave the Kenai Cemetery after participating in a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 29, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Community remembers the fallen

Flags flew and poppies were laid across Kenai and Soldotna in remembrance of those who died in active military service on Memorial Day, observed Monday.

The morning started at the Kenai Cemetery for the Avenue of Flags, where the cemetery was lined with a bold display of American flags, and then moved to Leif Hansen Memorial Park in Kenai, for a ceremony hosted by the Veteran’s Coalition of the Kenai Peninsula and, later, a second ceremony hosted by the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars in Soldotna Community Memorial Park.

“Today we pay tribute to those heroic patriots who paid the ultimate sacrifice,” VFW Post 10046 Commander John Walker said. “Who bravely rose up and fought for something greater than themselves, protecting a home they never came home to.”

There were several familiar faces at each ceremony, participating in the posting of colors, the reading of “In Flanders Fields” and the 21 Gun Salute, setting aside a major portion of their day to remember those who have lost their lives to protect.

“It’s emotional,” Norm Mortenson, of Soldotna and representative of AmVets Post 4, said. “I miss some of my friends that didn’t make it. Freedom is not free, and they paid for it.”

During the ceremony in Kenai, Steve Wright took the opportunity to speak up for a certain type of veteran.

“Our Agent Orange veterans are casualties of war,” Wright said. “We made a promise never to forget, and there are over 300,000 affected by Agent Orange that have no purple heart, no recognition.”

The community came out to show support at each of the ceremonies, with many community members taking a moment to place poppies in remembrance.

“We often forget that the sacrifice doesn’t just affect a family — it affects all of us,” Senator Peter Micciche (R-Soldotna) said after placing a poppy. “The loss of one changes history forever.”

Reach Kat Sorensen at kat.sorensen@peninsulaclarion.com.

AmVets Post 4 representative Norm Mortenson of Soldotna lays a wreath in Soldotna Community Memorial Park during a Memorial Day remembrance event on May 29, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)  AmVets Post 4 representative Norm Mortenson of Soldotna lays a wreath in Soldotna Community Memorial Park during a Memorial Day remembrance event. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

AmVets Post 4 representative Norm Mortenson of Soldotna lays a wreath in Soldotna Community Memorial Park during a Memorial Day remembrance event on May 29, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion) AmVets Post 4 representative Norm Mortenson of Soldotna lays a wreath in Soldotna Community Memorial Park during a Memorial Day remembrance event. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Jacob Fite, Sons of the American Legion Post 20, participates in the posting of colors during the Memorial Day Ceremony held at Leif Hansen Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska on May 29, 2017. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion) Jacob Fite, Sons of the American Legion Post 20, participates in the posting of colors during the Memorial Day Ceremony held at Leif Hansen Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska on May 29, 2017. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Jacob Fite, Sons of the American Legion Post 20, participates in the posting of colors during the Memorial Day Ceremony held at Leif Hansen Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska on May 29, 2017. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion) Jacob Fite, Sons of the American Legion Post 20, participates in the posting of colors during the Memorial Day Ceremony held at Leif Hansen Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska on May 29, 2017. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Madeline Edelen of Kenai participated in the Memorial Day Ceremony at Leif Hansen Memorial Park as the American Legion poppy girl on May 29, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion) Madeline Edelen of Kenai participated in the Memorial Day Ceremony at Leif Hansen Memorial Park as the American Legion poppy girl on May 29in Kenai. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Madeline Edelen of Kenai participated in the Memorial Day Ceremony at Leif Hansen Memorial Park as the American Legion poppy girl on May 29, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion) Madeline Edelen of Kenai participated in the Memorial Day Ceremony at Leif Hansen Memorial Park as the American Legion poppy girl on May 29in Kenai. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

More in News

A depth marker is almost entirely subsumed by the waters of the Kenai River in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
After delay, borough adopts updated flood insurance maps

The assembly had previously postponed the legislation amid outcry from the Kenai River Keys Property Owners Association.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche points to where the disconnected baler ram has bent piping at the Central Peninsula Landfill in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough approves federal request to fund recycling redesign

A large baler that was used for recycling was recently left inoperable by a catastrophic failure in its main ram.

A person is detained in Anchorage in recent days by officials from the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (FBI Anchorage Field Office photo)
Trump’s immigration raids arrive in Alaska, while Coast Guard in state help deportations at southern US border

Anchorage arrests touted by FBI, DEA; Coast Guard plane from Kodiak part of “alien expulsion flight operations.”

Jamiann S’eiltin Hasselquist asks participants to kneel as a gesture to “stay grounded in the community” during a protest in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday focused on President Donald Trump’s actions since the beginning of his second term. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Trump protest rally at Alaska State Capitol targets Nazi-like salutes, challenges to Native rights

More than 120 people show up as part of nationwide protest to actions during onset of Trump’s second term.

Borough Clerk Michele Turner administers an oath of office to Leslie Morton after Morton was appointed as the new Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly representative for Sterling and Funny River during an assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Morton appointed to assembly’s Sterling and Funny River seat

A vacancy on the assembly was created when Rep. Bill Elam resigned after winning election to the Alaska Legislature in November.

Co-owner Susannah Webster (right) checks in another attendee of The Porcupine Theater’s grand reopening gala on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
A night out at the theater

The Porcupine successfully held its long-awaited grand opening last weekend.

Cook Inletkeeper Energy Policy Analyst Ben Boettger presents information about retrofitting homes to be more energy efficient at the Cook Inletkeeper Community Action Studio on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Cook Inletkeeper to launch salmon solution community project

The program aims to address the impacts of pollution and warming temperatures in the Cook Inlet watershed.

Milly Hornung and Halle Blades speak in opposition to a possible closure of Nikiski Middle/High School during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD discusses possible school closures in face of $17 million deficit

A presentation from borough administration to the board on Tuesday outlined a series of scenarios for closure of up to nine schools.

A worker paints over a wall mural featuring words such as “fairness,” “leadership,” “compassion,” “diversity” and “integrity” at the FBI Academy at Quantico on Wednesday. (Anonymous photo provided to The New York Times)
Mass deletion and alteration of federal websites includes Alaska reports and data

Forest Service climate assessment, Alaska Native education program, FEMA strategic plan among deletions.

Most Read