Several events are planned on the South Coast in celebration of Memorial Day.

Bandon

A Blessing of the Fleet ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at the fisherman's memorial in Bandon. Bandon's Volunteer Fire Department will fire a gun salute and a Marine Corps League bugler will play taps. The ceremony and wreath laying is to honor fishermen and others who lost their lives at sea.

A flag parade will be held in Bandon at 11 a.m. Saturday and will end at the Bandon Veterans of Foreign Wars cemetery, located off of Second Street. A Color Guard from VFW Post 3440 will conduct the flag rising.

Coos Bay

A Memorial Day parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 27, on Fourth Avenue in downtown Coos Bay, and will end on Second Avenue. Registration is at 8 a.m. and judging is at 10. The theme of the parade is “Let Us Never Forget.” The grand marshal is World War II veteran and ex-prisoner of war James R. Davidson. Parade entry forms can be picked up at the visitors center in Coos Bay.

The Bay Area United Veterans Parade Committee is hosting the event.

At noon Saturday, seven of the oldest veterans of Coos County are invited to restage a photo to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the GAR encampment, at the Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery, next to Marshfield High School, 10th and Ingersoll. For more information, those interested can e-mail to cbcemetery@att.net or call the Coos Historical & Maritime Museum at 756-6320.

At 1 p.m. Saturday, a reflection ceremony will be held at the Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery. Sons of the Union Veterans will dedicate five new headstones.

Annual Memorial Day services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29, at Ocean View Memory Gardens, 1525 N.W. Ocean Blvd.; and at 11 a.m. Monday at Sunset Memorial Park, 63060 Millington Frontage Road, both in Coos Bay. The American Legion Bay Area Post No. 34 will officiate, and the Bay Area AMVETS Post No. 10 will present the Avenue of the Flags.

An additional memorial service will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum, with the Rev. Karl Schray, of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, officiating.

Highland bagpiping and drumming will be provided by Barry R. and Kathy J. Johnson of Cottage Grove, following the services at Sunset Memorial Park.

Information and assistance locating grave spaces and flower placement will be provided throughout the weekend by the staff of Sunset Memorial Park, 267-7182; and Ocean View Memory Gardens, 888-4709.

Charleston

Charleston is hosting its annual “Blessing of the Fleet Memorial Service” at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29.

Fishing families and the community are to gather at the Fishermen's Memorial near the Charleston Marina office.

The U.S. Naval Sea Cadets plan to open the ceremony, followed by an introduction by salmon troller James Moore, capt. of the Leta J.

The Rev. Ross Wilbanks of the Charleston Community Church will bless the fleet. Five names will be added to the Fishermen's Memorial this year. They include Arnold T. Hockema, J. Malcolm Turkington, Robert E. Frazell, Robert C. Jackson and Dick Purdy.

The ceremony also will include the reading of poems and a performance by the Charleston Community Church Choir.

The U.S. Coast Guard will take flowers to sea aboard the Motor Lifeboat Intrepid, following the ceremony.

Immediately after the service, the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay will hold a dedication for the newly installed Arnold T. Hockema Memorial Bench, located across from the Charleston Marina RV Park Office at the clamwalk. The Charleston Fishwives plan to serve coffee and cake at the RV Park office as well.

Reedsport

The Reedsport/Winchester Bay Chamber Commerce is sponsoring a Memorial Day celebration on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, May 28, 29 and 30.

This year's theme is “Honoring Veterans Past, Present and Future.” Green beret paratroopers from Fort Bragg, N.C., will be jumping into the memorial service at Hahn Memorial Park in downtown Reedsport with a 35-by-65-foot American flag. There also will be a fly-over by an F-15 squadron and other armed forces participation. The 29 Palms Marine Corps Marching Band will spend Tuesday in Winchester Bay, and will give two performances.

The parade will include groups and individuals of all ages and all are welcome to participate. It will be followed by a memorial service with displays and booths, barbecue and live entertainment.

For more information or to reserve a slot in the parade, those interested can call the chamber office at (541) 271-3495 or (800) 247-2155.