Jason Huntley, Oysterville Cemetery 2010

Memorial Day Weekend has been a biggee in Oysterville for forty years – ever since the Oysterville Restoration Foundation was formed back in the ’70s.  Then, as now, this was a second home for many residents and it was rare that everyone was ‘in town’ at the same time.  The ORF membership decided they would have their annual meeting on this weekend – a traditional time for families to gather to spiff up the cemetery and pay homage to the ancestors.  It was the best time for maximum participation.

Since then, the Oysterville Water Works has been formed and they, too, have their annual meeting at this time.  Saturday is the day – the designated meeting day for Oystervillians.  For many of us, it’s meetings in the morning and decorating the graves in the afternoon.  And, on Memorial Day, itself, there is a ceremony at the cemetery conducted by the Long Beach branch of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Bayside Singers, 2010

For a good number of years, the VFW tribute was attended only by a few stalwarts.  I have to admit that I wasn’t usually among them.  It wasn’t until Diane Buttrell got the town ‘organized’ with our own ceremony in conjunction with the VFW, that the graveside numbers swelled.  Diane is a great organizer.  She managed to put together a program that involved Dobby Wiegardt reading “The Gettysburg Address,” Nyel reading “In Flanders Fields,” and members of the community saying something about their loved ones who had died in service to our country.  It was a moving tribute and the number of participants and onlookers grew each year.

That first year, 2010, Diane and Hal served breakfast to everyone at their place next to the Andrews Garage here in town.  A group of women – the beginnings of the Bayside Singers – gathered ’round Diane’s baby grand piano and sang a few patriotic songs. Property owner Bradley had some of his classic cars on display and a huge American flag draped across the Garage.  It was a fine celebration.

Cannon Salute 2011

In the years that followed, participation at the cemetery increased and was followed by a Bayside Singers Concert at the Oysterville Church, then a cannon salute at our house and, finally, Diane and Hal’s breakfast at the Schoolhouse – everyone invited!  It has become a grand tradition. But this year… plans have changed.  Diane has opted out.  The ‘usual’ invitations were not posted around town.  According to the Observer, the VFW ceremony at the cemetery and the Bayside Singers’ concert at the church are scheduled for the same time.  There will be no cannon salute or breakfast.

As they say, change is inevitable.  That doesn’t make it easier.