Gert & Sam Svarny, Caleb Livingston

   On a day with winds out of the South East at 20-25 and partially overcast with patches of blue skies, the City of Unalaska celebrated its annual Memorial Day service. It was organized by the Ballyhoo Lions Club at Memorial Park which sits on the banks of Iliuliuk Harbor.

   This year’s Master of Ceremony was the Honorable Mayor Shirley Marquardt who remarked on the meaning of Memorial Day and its significance to Unalaska. The ceremony opened with the raising of the flags of the United States and the State of Alaska by the Coast Guard MSD detachment as Tammy Taylor sang the Star Spangled Banner. Military service flags were raised by local veterans who served in each military branch. Memorial Day thoughts, psalms, or prayers were offered by all of the local church dominations. Charlene Berikoff Shaishnikoff read the Fishermen’s poem, which honors all fishermen who have died at sea. A wreath was placed at the Fishermen’s Memorial. Unalaska’s only World War II veteran and longtime resident Sam Svarny placed a wreath at the WWII memorial. This honored the Unangan survivors of the relocation that was devastating to the Unangan population of the Aleutian Islands. United States Coast Guard Port Captain Mehler and Chaplain Rivers participated in the ceremony in memory of Officer Marciniak of the Dutch Harbor MSD detachment and Chief Petty Officer Oberdorf who both passed away this year. A wreath was placed at the Coast Guard memorial. Lynda Lybeck Robinson sang Eternal Father Strong to Save, followed by a 21 gun salute by Unalaska Public Safety Officers and the State of Alaska Troopers’ Rifle Detachment. The ceremony closed with a performance of Taps by Unalaska High School band members Donnie Lane and Tanner Leggett.