The 2026 Whatcom Memorial Day Parade rolled through downtown Bellingham on Saturday, May 23rd, drawing families, veterans, and community members to Cornwall Avenue for three hours of tribute, music, and celebration. The annual event, which runs from noon to 3 p.m. starting at the corner of Alabama and Cornwall, honored the men and women who gave their lives in service to the country while putting a human face on local public safety in a particularly touching way.
Among the marchers this year was a young boy named Tristan, Bellingham's Bellingham Police Department "Chief for a Day." Dressed in full police uniform and hat, Tristan stepped into the parade alongside BPD officers, earning recognition from the department on social media after the event. The Chief for a Day program gives young community members a chance to shadow law enforcement, participate in official ceremonies, and connect with the officers who serve their neighborhood.
Tristan's story had already made waves earlier in the week. Mayor Kim Lund had introduced him during her Mayor's Report and announced he would be sworn in as Chief for a Day. Bellingham Municipal Court Commissioner Henery delivered the oath, with Judge Lev presiding, while Tristan's family looked on. BPD Chief Rebecca Mertzig placed Tristan's badge on his uniform herself, a moment the department described as a highlight of the week.
The parade itself delivered on its reputation as one of the most community-oriented events on Whatcom County's calendar. Organizers packed the route with vibrant dancers, marching bands, classic and vintage cars, local heroes, and veterans representing multiple generations of service. The Whatcom Memorial Day Parade organization described the event as more than a parade, calling it a celebration of community and connection centered around honoring sacrifice.
Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham served as the parade's spine, with the procession heading south from the Alabama Street intersection and winding through the heart of the city. Sidewalks filled early, and the combination of warm late-May weather and a three-day weekend drew one of the stronger turnout crowds in recent years, according to attendees.
Memorial Day weekend in Whatcom County traditionally marks the unofficial start of the summer season, and this year's parade arrived alongside a full slate of community programming. Local parks, waterfront areas, and event spaces saw heavy activity through the weekend, with families taking advantage of the extended break to get outdoors across the county.
The Chief for a Day program is part of BPD's broader community outreach efforts, which also include school visits, ride-alongs, and partnerships with local youth organizations. The program has quietly become one of the department's most visible ways of building trust with younger residents. Participants typically spend time at the station, meet with officers, and take part in a formal swearing-in ceremony before their day of shadowing begins.
For Tristan, the day ended with a march down Cornwall Avenue in front of the entire city, police uniform on, part of a parade honoring the people who wore that uniform before him. It was the kind of moment that tends to stick, both for the kid in the hat and for the community watching from the curb.
Next year's parade is expected to return to the same format. Community members interested in participating, volunteering, or sponsoring can find more information at the Whatcom Memorial Day Parade website. Those interested in BPD community programs including the Chief for a Day initiative can reach out through the City of Bellingham Police Department page.
