Des Moines Memorial Drive Preservation Associations annual Memorial Day observance will be Monday, May 26

The annual Memorial Day observance by the Des Moines Memorial Drive Preservation Association will take place on May 26, 2024, at the old Sunnydale Elementary School, starting at 11 a. m. The American Legion will present the colors, and Chris Plyman will discuss the history of Memorial Day during the event. Former soprano soloist Kate Bysheim is set to perform the National Anthem, while the Burien American Legion Post 134 will serve as the Honor Guard. Community members can view various art projects commemorating WWI veterans, including storyboards and doughboy emblems.

The observance aligns with a ribbon-cutting for a new flag plaza, marking a significant step in honoring local history. Organizers invite the public to visit their on-site museum and engage with these memorial efforts. The original Des Moines Memorial Drive was lined with elm trees to honor WWI fallen soldiers, a tribute now challenged by urbanization. Efforts to create a “living road of remembrance” continue through artistic initiatives and historical timelines.