On Saturday, 13 December 2025, some 150 people gathered in north Seattle at Evergreen-Washelli’s Veterans Memorial Cemetery to honor the 5,000 veterans, including six Medal of Honor recipients, who rest in peace there. The Veterans Memorial Wreath Foundation (www.VMWF.org) sponsors the annual ceremony, its 17th. Jim Kellett and I sounded “Echo Taps” together for the second time, and that set me wondering about how many times I’ve performed at this event. So, I looked it up here on my blog (see Archives column to the left). My first was on 16 December 2011—a little personal history trivia. And I’ve posted articles here about almost all of them. They’re easy to find by using the search box in the upper right corner of this page.

Besides my sounding “Echo Taps” with Jim, what was unique about this year’s event?

• Chaplain Leon Buchanan’s brief invocation and benediction were elegant expressions of praise, humility and gratitude.
• Vocalist Phil Onishi sang the national anthem with conviction and took many beautiful photos for WMWF, including all those used here in this post.
• Lorraine Zimmerman’s leadership in conducting the program was masterful.
• The Washington State Color Guard was precise and sharp.
• The Honor Guard of VFW Post 1040 in Lynnwood fired their rifles inspiringly.
• Boy Scouts from Troop 419 in Marysville distributed the printed programs.
• Cub Scout Pack 331 furnished the scout, Ethan Crane, who led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
• The 8 men who represented the branches of the military did a superb job of dedicating their respective wreaths with dignity by placing the American flag and rendering a hand salute.
• And, afterwards, the audience became the volunteers who reverently placed approximately 2,000 wreaths on gravestones in the cemetery.

The ceremony was Called to Order when I sounded “Assembly.’ I used my Getzen bugle, and Jim Kellett used his trumpet when we sounded “Echo Taps.”

Photos by Phil Onishi. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.