As coordinator of the Coupeville Memorial Day Parade, I would like to thank the following:

Captain Thomas Tack, COM VAQ Wing Pac; Commander Scott Askins, VP1; Glenn Lane, Pearl Harbor survivor; and Mayor Nancy Conard. All my guest speakers gave wonderful speeches. Thanks also to the Northwest Navy Band for their fantastic music during the parade and after the remembrance ceremony.

Also all my volunteers for all their hard work: PAO Kimberly Martin, NAS; Executive Assistant Laura Menders and Community Relations Director Tony Popp for all their behind-the-scenes work at NAS Whidbey; the military volunteers who helped in all areas of the parade; the Marine Corps for the honor guard and vehicle; Vicky and George Lawson, Benye and John Weber, and Al Smith in staging and check-in; Judy and Jerry Case, Marj Bagwell, Kerri Biork, Sarah Richards, Coupeville Soroptimists and Mayor Conard in the town park; Fresh Flowers Express, Coupeville road crew and my set-up and break-down crew for all their work; Coupeville Police and the Sheriff’s Department for traffic control; Central Whidbey Chamber and Whidbey Island Bank who sponsor this event each year and asked me to do this job; all the many veteran entries; the Whidbey Cruzers and Whidbey Model A’s Car Club, who transported my veterans; all of the businesses that let us use their lots for staging areas; and anyone else I may have missed.

This event couldn’t happen without all of your help. I’m looking forward to seeing you all again next year. I will continue to try and make this the best parade ever in Washington State.

Joyce Claus

Parade coordinator