PORT TOWNSEND — Each Veterans Day, Loren Youderian pays his respects at the Fort Worden Military Cemetery.
It’s something the Poulsbo resident makes a point of doing every year, his son-in-law, John Bennett said while walking with Youderian through the lush green grass next to Spruce Street on Tuesday.
“It’s nice to get out and come up here,” Bennett said.
He slowly led Youderian, a World War II veteran who walks with the help of a white cane, through the uniform rows of white headstones set the dark green grass.
They stopped every few feet as Bennett read inscriptions on the grave markers to Youderian.
In the center of the cemetery near the replica of a annon and a large American flag, they met Karen Bennett and Vivian Knutson.
Knutson’s husband served in the Coast Guard for 22 years as a cook.
Youderian emphasized the importance cook’s role in a military unit.
“You always have to have a good cook,” he added.
Elsewhere in Jefferson County, groups of veterans and residents gathered to honor men and women that have served in the nation’s military.
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The rest of the story appears in the Wednesday Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County edition.