SALEM, OR -- Oregon’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs hosts its annual Memorial Day ceremony Monday - Its first in-person Memorial Day since 2019. ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick says veterans from all over Oregon will take part, "We are trying to reflect, as much as possible, that great diversity across the veteran community. So, we’ve got participants in the event who represent just about every modern day era of service." She says participants range from a WWII vet who was at Pearl Harbor, to those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as peace-time soldiers. "Two veterans from Warm Springs who are going to be participating to give a tribal blessing," says Fitzpatrick, "And then a performance of a warrior song."

Following a fly-over by the Air National Guard, the event starts at 11 a.m. in front of the Oregon World War II Memorial in Salem. ?The ceremony will also be livestreamed on ODVA’s Facebook page for those unable to attend.

Fitzpatrick says it’s a solemn day, "Memorial Day is the one day every American should stop, pause and remember - in the case of Oregon, about 6,000 individuals dating back to the civil war that fought and died for our freedoms."