A Memorial Day celebration May 29 at 11 a.m. at Fleet Park in Montesano where local veterans David Ira Harner, Johnny A. Chambers and Timothy P. Davis will be honored for their service and sacrifice.

Chambers and Harner both were killed in action during the Vietnam War, while Davis was killed in action in Afghanistan.

“They answered the call, whether you believe in the war or think it was wrong it doesn’t matter, they answered the call and gave their lives and need to be recognized,” VFW Post 2455 Chaplain Ken Estes said.

The Harner/Chambers Memorial service came to fruition after City Councilman Dan Wood stumbled upon the condition of the plaque placed by the Montesano High School class of 1959 to honor their classmate, Johnny Chambers. The plaque sitting at Bryan Park had been pushed up over the years, perhaps by moles, Estes said, and a portion of the plaque had been cut off by lawn mowers. When talks on how to properly honor Chambers began between Estes, Wood and Jim Neeley, it was discovered that another Montesanan, Harner, had been killed in action in Vietnam.

“We (Estes and Neeley) and Dan Wood began discussions that neither man had been properly honored,” Estes said.

Wood brought the idea of honoring the veterans further to council sometime in early 2016, Wood said, and noted that they were mindful of this being the 50th anniversary of the loss of Chambers and Harner.

“I think when it comes to our memorials and cemeteries, veterans or not veterans, it’s very important for a community to be aware of history and to properly keep its memories,” Wood said.

While talks commenced on how to honor Montesano’s veterans, it was decided that Bryan Park was not the best place to do so. Fleet Park, it seemed, already had everything necessary for an additional monument to go alongside the Veterans who Served monument already there. Parking and lighting at Fleet Park is also superior to that at Bryan Park, allowing for people to safely pay their respects.

It was decided that a monument should be placed at Fleet Park honoring the veterans. The new monument will incorporate the one at Bryan Park, but the original plaque will go to Chambers’ widow and brass recreations of the plaque will go at the foot of the monument for Chambers and Harner.

“We wanted to keep with that history. We didn’t want to completely part with that,” Wood said.

Donations for the monument totaled some $4,000, with many donations coming from the Army units in which Harner and Chambers served.

“Immediately men from Harner’s troop began contacting us, many with donations of $50 to $200,” Estes said. “And some called filled with emotion knowing that Montesano would finally be honoring them.”

VFW Post 2455 is no longer asking for donations for the memorial or for the day’s festivities, but any additional donations received will go toward the Honor Squad Uniform Fund.

After the VFW Memorial Service and the monument dedication, a ceremony will be held at the corner of Pioneer Avenue and Academy Street to honor a Montesano veteran killed in action in Afghanistan, Timothy P. Davis, by naming Academy Street in his name. Additionally, after the service the Honor Squad will go to Wynooche Cemetery for a repeat of Honors.

After the honoring of Davis, people are invited to join the VFW for free hot dogs at that same location.

The Memorial Day festivities will begin promptly at 11 a.m., staying true to the origins of Armistice Day, when a WWI peace was struck at 11 a.m. Nov. 11, 1918. Estes warned that those arriving much later than that may have trouble finding a parking space, but there should still be plenty of seats or places to stand.

Wood encouraged people to attend the service, noting the remarkable nature of military service.

“It’s a small percentage of people who serve, but the rest of us are beneficiaries of that and should come honor what they’ve done,” Wood said.