Tahoma National Cemetery invites the public to attend a Memorial Day ceremony to remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in military service to a grateful nation.

The ceremony is at 1 p.m. Monday, May 29 at the main flag pole assembly area, 18600 SE 240th St., Kent.

“The America we know today would not be the same were it not for the men and women we honor on Memorial Day,” said Cemetery Director Thomas Yokes in a press release. “Through their spirit, adherence to duty, honor and their sacrifice, our Veterans paid for and delivered not only our freedom and security, but also the freedom for millions of our friends and allies around the world.”

The program begins with a B-25 flyover from the Historic Flight Foundation followed by a Guardian One Huey Helicopter flyover from the King County Sheriff’s Department.

The B-25 will be piloted by John Sessions, son of WWII veterans. His father was a squad leader in the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (combat jumps behind Utah Beach, Holland/Bulge, Germany). His mother was his father’s nurse (she outranked him) at the end of nineteen months’ convalescence from war wounds. In honor of his parents, Session will wear the 501st patch on his flight suit.

Session’s flying experience ranges from a de Havilland Beaver float plane to a Mig-29 fighter jet. In 2009, he recovered B-25 “Grumpy” from England, retracing the Lend-Lease route through Iceland, Greenland, Hudson Bay and across Canada to the Seattle area. In 2015 he flew a Spitfire throughout England to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and has been invited to fly a C-47 in the 75th anniversary (2019) of D-Day.

Keynote speaker is U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Commander Jeffrey T. Dolan, an intelligence officer in charge of supporting regulatory law enforcement and port security related missions in the Puget Sound region.

Dolan’s military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and the Special Operations Service Medal.

Parking space is limited in the cemetery. Visitors should plan on walking to and from your parking spot to the ceremony. Parking is available for disabled passengers and drivers with a shuttle to and from the ceremony assembly area.

For more information, contact the cemetery at 425-413-9614 or visit cem.va.gov.