The City of Mill Creek continues its tradition of honoring those members of the U.S. Armed Forces who died in service to their country with two Memorial Day activities on May 27.
“We have selected the theme ‘We Will Remember’ for this year’s events to remind us what this day is all about,” said Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Jon Ramer, the City’s special events manager. “Memorial Day was established as a day of national awareness and reverence, honoring those Americans who died while defending our nation and its values.”
A Commemorative Ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at Veterans Monument at Library Park, 15429 Bothell Everett Hwy. The ceremony includes brief remarks, patriotic songs by a local chorale and a flag raising ceremony by South Snohomish County Honor Guard. A time of silence will follow the ceremony. Volunteers will distribute red carnations to attendees to place on the monument as a visual expression of remembrance and respect.
The City also holds a Memorial Day Parade, which takes place at 11 a.m. down Main Street in Mill Creek Town Center. There will be one parade participant performance area located at the intersection of 153rd Street SE and Main Street.
The Parade Grand Marshal is the USS Ralph Johnson Sailor of the Year. Earlier this year, the City Council adopted the USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114), the newly commissioned Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer stationed at Naval Station Everett. A contingent of USS Ralph Johnson sailors also will march in the parade, led by Commander Casey Mahon.
Among the parade entrants are a number of antique vehicles, several honor guards, military and law enforcement personnel, Snohomish County Fire District 7 vehicles, veterans groups, scouting troops, community groups, and an FV433 British Abbot Tank. Flying overhead will be Grumpy, a B-25D Mitchell that currently resides at Historic Flight at Kilo 7 on Paine Field.
Historical memorabilia and antique military vehicles will be on display lining Main Street south of 153rd Street SE.
Due to the large number of people that annually attend this event, the public is encouraged to park away from Mill Creek Town Center and take the Swift Green Line to the 153rd Street Station. Swift service on May 27 will run every 20 minutes from 7 a.m. to 8:40 p.m.
Those choosing to drive to Mill Creek Town Center will experience parking and traffic impacts.
- Main Street between 148th Street SE and 151st Street SE will close for parking and through traffic at 6 a.m., as this is the parade staging area.
- Main Street between 151st Street SE and City Hall North will close for parking between 10 a.m. and noon.
- The northbound turn lanes on Bothell-Everett Highway will be blocked off at 151st Street SE, 153rd Street SE and 156th Street SE at about 10:30 a.m.; southbound traffic can still make right-hand turns onto those streets.
- 153rd Street SE will be blocked to through-traffic at about 10:45 a.m. and will reopen after the parade goes by.
- From Mill Creek Blvd, traffic can turn north on Main Street, but will be diverted to an access road south of Run 26.
- Finally, the north LA Fitness parking lot will close at 6 a.m. for parade staging; patrons can park in the south lot, but are advised that once the parade starts, access in and out will be temporarily stopped.
See additional information about the day’s events at
www.millcreektourism.com/memorialday.
The City of Mill Creek’s Memorial Day activities are sponsored by Sprouts Farmer’s Market, Fred Meyer, Waste Management, Central Market, Community Transit, Sullivan Orthodontics, Nancy’s Noah’s Ark and Starbucks. The community is encouraged to support the organizations that support the Mill Creek community.