ARLINGTON — On March 31 at 11 a.m., the Arlington Cemetery will serve as the site for a ceremony to honor Snohomish County veterans who passed away between July and December of 2011.

“The rendering of military funeral honors is one way this nation shows its deep gratitude to those who, in times of war and peace, have faithfully defended our country,” said Sgt. William Martin of the Washington Army National Guard Honor Guard. “But it wasn’t until the year 2000 that Congress made this ceremonial paying of respects a statutory benefit for a veteran’s family. Prior to that time, even in recent years, honorably serving men and women have passed away without ever receiving a nation’s formal demonstration of gratitude for their service and sacrifice.”

To that end, the Veterans Memorial Tribute Program is dedicated to leaving none of those men and women behind. The names of each veteran will be read aloud, accompanied by the ceremonial ringing of a bell and followed by full military honors, with support from local veterans’ service organizations.

“If your loved one was an honorably serving veteran who never received military honors, you owe it to yourself, your family and your loved one’s memory to attend,” Martin said.

The Arlington Arlington Cemetery is located at 20310 67th Ave. NE. For more information, call the Washington Army National Guard Honor Guard at 360-815-0202.