Showing posts with label veterans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label veterans. Show all posts

Forgotten veterans will receive full military honors

Sunday, November 20, 2022

123 urns with remains of forgotten veterans

Story and photos by Doug Cerretti

It was stunning. As I walked into Tribute Center and Celebration Hall at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home and Cemetery (11111 Aurora Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133), I saw the 123 urns. I have never seen so many remains in one place.
Who are these people? 

They are 99 unclaimed Veterans, 14 Spouses and 10 dependent children. They are Veterans or dependents from the Vietnam War, Korean War, World War II, World War I, the Spanish-American War and the Indian Wars.

Corwin and Cameron were Spanish-American War vets
They are Robert V Cameron and John H Corwin, US Army veterans of the Spanish-American War. 

They are the Sutherland family, brothers Glen W, US Army and Ray C, US Navy, veterans of WWI and wife, Gertrude H and son, Ladd W. 

Sutherland family
They are Myra G Kinzie, beloved wife of John Kinzie a veteran of the Indian Wars, whose unclaimed remains have been waiting 110 years to be laid to rest.

This is the largest unclaimed recovery and interment in recent U.S. history. We were invited, November 14, 2022 to honor these 123 souls and proclaim, “they are no longer unclaimed.” 

These remains were unclaimed and forgotten, but at the ceremony we were there to change that they were unclaimed no longer, to remember them, as Soldiers never die unless forgotten. The unclaimed remains were found at Butterworth Funeral Home and Cemetery in Seattle.

Service Corporation International, www.sci-corp.com, North America's largest provider of funeral, cemetery and cremation services, and its brand, Dignity Memorial®, have partnered with the Missing In America Project www.miap.us to inter the ashes of 99 veterans who never received a proper burial.

Veterans of WW I
The veterans have gone unclaimed for decades, because their families never made arrangements or they didn't have living family members to arrange a service. 

This will be the largest burial in MIAP history. The veterans will receive a dignified ceremony and final recognition of deep gratitude for their faithful service to our country.

The mission of the Missing In America Project is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed remains of American veterans and their dependents.

Veterans of WWI and WWII
They visit funeral homes around the country to fulfill their mission of securing a final resting place for the forgotten heroes. Volunteers create an inventory of ashes, and verify the date of birth, date of death and any other available information.

With the exception of three to be buried at sea and seven going to Tahoma National Cemetery 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA 98042, they will be honorably transferred to Washington State Veterans Cemetery 21702 W Espanola Rd, Medical Lake, WA, 16 November 2022 where they will be laid to rest with full military honors.
Myra Kinzie died 110 years ago

Tom Keating, Washington State Coordinator of the Missing in America Project, said that all the funeral homes had do is call a federal or state veterans cemetery to have these remains interred.

Butterworth was an independent, family owned business on Capitol Hill in Seattle, which now is part of the Dignity Memorial chain.



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Veterans event at Shoreline City Hall

Thursday, November 17, 2022

A celebration held on Veterans Day, November 11, 2022, was sponsored by City of Shoreline, Shoreline Veterans Association, Starr Sutherland, Jr. Post 227 of The American Legion, and the US Volunteers-Joint Services Command.

Presentation o the colors
The 103rd BCT U.S. Volunteers presented the colors.

Mayor Keith Scully

Shoreline Mayor Keith Scully welcomed the participants and led the Pledge of Allegiance as well as presenting a proclamation from the City of Shoreline.

Chaplain (BG) Olen Crowe, USAFVR gave the invocation and the benediction.

MG Ray Coffey, Chair of the Shoreline Veterans Association (SVA), spoke on the origins of the veterans day celebration. Major Bill McCully read the poem "In Flanders Field."

Doug Cerretti (right) presented Dembowski with a framed
photo of the councilmember with Dwight Stevens
King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski made remarks. 

As the person responsible for major funding of the Shoreline Veterans Recognition Plaza, he was presented with a framed photo of himself with SVA co-founder Dwight Stevens, who led the project to create the plaza.

The keynote address was given by Michael Schindler, CEO Operation Military Families.

The Around the Sound band

Throughout the ceremony, music was provided by the Around the Sound band.

--All photos provided by Doug Cerretti and the Shoreline Veterans Association



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Flags placed on 7,000 veterans graves at Evergreen Washelli

Sunday, November 13, 2022

Youth groups placing flags on graves of veterans
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire and other youth groups came to Evergreen Washelli at 10am on Friday, November 11, 2022 to place 7,000 flags on the graves of veterans from the Civil War to recent times buried in the Lower Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Honor guard, followed by NW Junior Pipe and Drum Band
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

At 11am a ceremony included buglers, the NW Junior Pipe and Drum Band, and a color guard from the Washington State Guard. Carol Ridenhour and William MacCully delivered remarks.

Evergreen Washelli is located on Aurora at 111th St NE. The Cemetery was founded in 1884 by David T. Denny (1832-1903) and his wife Louisa Boren Denny (1827-1916) 



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UW Med: For veterans, minor head injuries can have lasting effects

Saturday, November 12, 2022

Dr. Christine Mac Donald
Photo courtesy UW Med
A long-running UW Medicine study of U.S. military service members shows that many who sustained mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from combat-related explosions continue to feel adverse effects for years afterward.

“What we have found, unfortunately, is that a large proportion of them have continued symptoms, and not just specific symptoms, but things that evolve over time,” said Dr. Christine Mac Donald, the study’s lead investigator.

She is a professor and vice chair of research in neurological surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Mac Donald says the findings contrast much of the existing historical data on mild TBIs, which indicate that symptoms usually resolve in three to six months.

A mild TBI includes concussion caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head and results in the brain moving quickly back and forth. Common symptoms of a TBI are wide-ranging but can affect how a person feels, thinks, acts and sleeps. 

Read more about mild TBIs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mac Donald launched the study in 2008 while working in trauma surgery in Landstuhl, Germany. She led the effort to enroll over 500 then-active-duty U.S. service members who were based in Afghanistan or who had been evacuated to a medical center in Germany. Some had been diagnosed with a mild TBI while others had not suffered any head injury.

Enrollment continued through summer 2013 and evaluations of all participants have occurred in Seattle every one, five and 10 years since. Mac Donald says the ongoing 10-year follow-ups are delivering a surprising and concerning trend.

“At the 10-year wave, we are starting to see individuals present just generally sicker than their civilian counterparts,” she said. 
“They're more likely to have unhealthy conditions, or conditions of aging pop up before we typically see them: things like diabetes, heart disease, hypertension – outside of the brain.”

The well-being of veteran service members should be viewed as a major public health concern, she said. 

“It doesn't matter where you fall on the political spectrum. It behooves all of us to better understand how we can help these individuals have the best quality of life as their healthcare falls to all of us – not just for themselves and for their family, but for the community that they live in, and for us as a society.”


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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Veterans Day

Friday, November 11, 2022


Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces (who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable).[1][2] 

It coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day which are celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I.[3] Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major US veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.[4]

--Wikipedia



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Ferry whistles will sound to honor veterans

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

This Friday, Nov. 11, WSDOT will observe Veterans Day to honor America’s military veterans for their patriotism, bravery and willingness to safeguard our freedoms.

There are 524 veterans employed throughout WSDOT. We’re proud that so many who served our country choose to continue serving others through their work here at WSDOT. 

Washington State Ferries will pay tribute to veterans at 11:11am on November 11 by sounding ferry whistles in unison as a salute to current and former military personnel. 

They will also fly a flag of one of the six branches of the U.S. military on each of our ferries.



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Brown Bear Car Wash salutes veterans and active military with free car washes on Friday

Brown Bear Car Wash will offer free washes to all current or former members of the military on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11, 2022. 

The free “Beary Clean” washes will be available at Brown Bear’s 28 tunnel wash locations from 8am to 6pm.

The offer operates on an honor system and no verification or documentation is required. Drivers should identify themselves as a current or former member of the military to the wash attendant upon arrival.

Seattle-based, family-owned Brown Bear will donate $1 for each car washed on Veterans Day to support Puget Sound Honor Flight and its mission of transporting Western Washington war veterans to visit memorials in Washington, D.C.

Tunnel car wash locations: 
  • Shoreline - 16032 Aurora Ave N
  • Lake City - 14312 Lake City Way NE


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City of Shoreline proclaims Friday Veterans Appreciation Day - Shoreline Veterans Association ceremonies at 2pm

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Mayor Keith Scully with 1st Vice-Commander John Brady

The Shoreline City Council on November 7, 2022 issued a proclamation where "the City of Shoreline recognizes the contributions of the men and women in the military who served our country, and who continue to serve their communities.” 

The proclamation also states that the Shoreline Veterans Association is hosting their annual Veterans Day Celebration at Shoreline City Hall on Veterans Day, November 11, 2022 at 2:00pm and proclaim that day Veterans Appreciation Day. 

After reading the Proclamation, Keith Scully, Mayor of the City of Shoreline, presented the Proclamation to 1st Vice-Commander John Brady of Starr Sutherland, Jr Post 227 of The American Legion on behalf of all Veterans.



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Thursday luncheon and program to honor veterans at Shoreline LFP Senior Center

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

VETERANS DAY LUNCHEON – Thursday, November 10, 2022 from 11:30am – 1:00pm at the Shoreline - LFP Senior Activity Center, southernmost building on the Shoreline Center campus, 18560 1st Ave NE #1, Shoreline WA 98155.

We invite you to a special Veterans Day Luncheon honoring all those who have served.

Join us for lunch, patriotic songs played by pianist Guy Forbes, and a presentation. We encourage those in attendance to wear their uniforms, military insignia and/or medals. All are welcome.

The event is free but reservations are required.

Call 206-365-1536 to reserve your seat!

Our delicious menu includes:
  • Roast Beef with Baked Potato
  • Roasted Mixed Vegetables and Garden Salad
  • Fresh Roll with Butter 
  • Baked Apple Pie


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Nearby Veterans Day celebrations Friday

Shoreline Veterans Recognition Plaza
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Ceremonies honoring all American veterans will be held in Shoreline, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, and Everett on Friday, November 11, 2022.

There will be a modified Lynnwood Veterans Day Ceremony conducted by the VFW Post 1040 Honor Guard team at Veterans Memorial Park, 44th Ave and 194th St SW, at 11am. This team will perform the 21 Gun Salute along with the playing of Taps.

Edmonds Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at Edmonds Veterans Plaza, 250 5th Ave, Edmonds, 97020, 11am

At 9am, 11 Nov the City of Mill Creek will have their commemorative Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Monument at Library Park 15429 Bothell-Everett Hwy. In addition, the Mill Creek Veterans Day Parade, 11 Nov, 11am start time, will assemble between 10-10:30am at the LA Fitness Center in Town Center 15024 Main Street. All veterans are encouraged to attend and either walk or ride in one of many volunteer classic cars.

The Carl Gipson Community Center's Veterans Day ceremony is at 1pm, followed by a USO styled dance from 2-5pm. 3025 Lombard Ave, Everett, WA 98201, Phone: 425-257-8780.

The Shoreline Veterans Association, Starr Sutherland, Jr. American Legion Post 227 and the City of Shoreline will host a Veterans Day celebration at Shoreline City Hall at 2 pm. 17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133

In addition,

The Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center will host their annual Veterans Day luncheon on Thursday November 10, 2022. Reservations required. Call us at 206-365-1536. 18560 1st Ave NE #1.



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Veterans Day ceremonies at Sunset Hills in Bellevue

Flags adorn veterans graves at Sunset Hills.
Photo courtesy TripAdvisor.com
The public is invited to attend Veterans Day ceremonies in Bellevue on Friday.

A moving and colorful ceremony to honor America’s active duty military, military Veterans and First Responders will be held at Sunset Hills Memorial Park on Friday, November 11, 2022, at 11:00am in a ceremony hosted by the Sons of the American Revolution, American Legion Post #161, VFW Post #2995, and Sunset Hills Memorial Park. 

In what has become one of the largest Veterans Day ceremonies in Washington State, all active duty military and military Veterans will be honored by the traditional greeting and exchange of salutes from their respective senior branch officers. 

Vietnam era Veterans, and the widows and mothers of deceased Vietnam Veterans, will receive the Department of Defense 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War commemorative lapel pins. Eastside Scouts will place more than 3,200 American flags and poppies on the graves of Veterans buried in the cemetery. 

The event is open to the public. Sunset Hills is located at 1215 145th Place SE, in Bellevue, Washington.

This year’s ceremony focuses on women in uniform. On hand will be flag officers from various military branches, Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson, senior officers of the Bellevue Police and Fire Departments, and dignitaries from across Western Washington.

This ceremony is an Eastside tradition, involving senior military officers from each branch of service, Scouts of all ages, the University of Washington Air Force ROTC Color Guard, the USO Director, a renowned area bagpiper, a US Navy bugler, and representatives of various military and service organizations.

The Committee to Honor American Veterans was assembled in 2016 by Eastside attorney Gregory Lucas, of the Cascade Centennial Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, to plan ceremonies honoring America’s military and military veterans. 

It includes former Boeing VP Dan Heidt, Air Force Major General Richard Paul, Army Colonel Howard Lim, Air Force Major and former POW Joe Crecca, Cascade DAR Regent Marcia Williams, and Pastor Emeritus Ward Tanneberg of Bellevue’s Westminster Chapel. 



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Story of the VFW “Buddy” Poppy

Monday, November 7, 2022

Our local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) will be at the Shoreline Fred Meyer on Friday -Saturday, Nov 11-12, 9:30am-5:30pm, accepting donations for Buddy Poppies.

 

Photo by Jon Ann Cruver

A poem is dedicated to the memory of those men and women who fought and died for the USA. The “Buddy” Poppy has become the true symbol honoring all those veterans who have given their lives in our nation’s wars.

Since 1922, the VFW has offered “Buddy” Poppies in exchange for donations to raise funds for its charitable programs on behalf of needy and disabled veterans, and the widows and orphans of deceased veterans.

In Flanders fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

--Colonel John McCrae

================================

In April of 1915, a battle-weary Canadian soldier (Colonel John McCrae) viewed the final resting place of thousands of young men (some his former buddies) who had fallen in the 2nd Battle of Ypres in Belgium. Despondently he contemplated the rows of hastily dug graves --- each marked by a lonely white cross.

In sudden revelation, he heard the singing of larks in the sky, and amid the graves he saw patches of red, wild, poppies --- struggling through the battle-torn soil and the graves to bring their message of life amongst death.

Inspired, Colonel John McCrae sat down and penned three short verses --- his poem “In Flanders Fields.” His published poem brought a message of confidence to millions of people --- establishing the Flanders “Buddy” Poppy as the symbol of faith and hope in a war-torn world.

Colonel McCrae’s poem has survived in print and in the hearts and minds of generations. The Poppies which provided his inspiration still bloom in Flanders Fields --- their message of hope has become reality through the VFW Buddy Poppy.

Every year, more than 13 million people donate for and wear a VFW Buddy Poppy to honor veterans. The VFW Buddy Poppies are made by patients in veterans’ hospitals in the USA. 

The work provides needed therapy for hands and minds crippled by the ravages of war, and the pay earned provides a few simple luxuries to ease the boredom of hospital life.

In keeping with its pledge “No one does more for veterans”, Buddy Poppy events are conducted exclusively by volunteers from VFW Posts --- the VFW uses the proceeds to fund aid and assistance to disabled/needy service male/female veterans, homeless veterans and widows/orphans of deceased veterans.


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To Everything There is a Season

Monday, October 3, 2022

Winter
To everything there is a season
Photos by Doug Cerretti

The four seasons of the Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) 
located at the Edmonds Veteran Plaza, 250 5th Ave N, Edmonds, WA 98020

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

Spring
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

Summer
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

Fall
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late
--
Song popularized by the Byrds (1965); written by Pete Seeger (1959) who adapted the lyrics from the Bible (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) 



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Just a Couple of UW Frat Boys: American Legion Post 227 relearns its history

Sunday, September 11, 2022

2nd Lt Starr Sutherland, Jr. 1943
Courtesy of MR Johnson
By Doug Cerretti

With the passage of time we tend to forget much of the past as we lose contact with that past. Such is the case with 1st Lt Starr Sutherland, Jr. 

When I joined the Starr Sutherland, Jr. Post 227 of The American Legion in Shoreline, WA a few years ago, all I knew about Starr Sutherland is that Post 227 was named after him and he was killed in action in WWII during the Battle of the Bulge. 

Since establishment of Post 227 in 1948, we had lost much of the knowledge of Starr Sutherland. 

We were prompt to remedy our deficiency in our knowledge of Starr Sutherland, Jr. after an email. 

Starr Dern in Shoreline
The author of the email related that his Dad, William Dehn, and Starr Sutherland, Jr. were students at the University of Washington, roommates, fraternity brothers (Sigma Tau chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta, aka Fijis) and best friends.

William thought so much of Starr that he named his youngest son after him. The sender of the email - Starr Dehn! 

This email prompted us to search for the information we had lost of Starr Sutherland, Jr. This search culminated in a visit to Post 227 by Starr Dehn on August 20, 2022.

We learned that William and Starr were graduates of Seattle’s Roosevelt and Lincoln High Schools, respectively, class of 1940. At the UW, Starr was a member of the Husky football and tennis teams while William participated in rowing. 

Graffiti at Husky Stadium
When Husky Stadium was renovated in 2013, walls were uncovered revealing graffiti. You can see Starr had left his mark. 

With the outbreak of World War II, many college students of the time enlisted into the military; William was commissioned after Navy ROTC in 1944 and Starr after Army OCS (officer candidate school) in 1943. 

2nd Lt Starr Sutherland, Jr. entered France via Omaha Beach July 1944 in the 35th Infantry Division, a part of Patton’s 3rd Army. As they raced across France they took part in the fighting to relieve Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.
Wartime letter from Starr to his friend William. Transcription below.
Starr wrote a letter to William 18 December 1944. It is heartening, like so many letters written to friends and family, with plans never to be fulfilled. Just two UW Frat Boys talking about the friendship their families had and what they were going to do when they returned home.

On December 26, 1944, 2nd Lt Starr Sutherland, Jr. was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action and was battlefield promoted to 1st Lt. 

Starr Dehn in Luxembourg at Starr Sutherland, Jr.'s grave
Sadly, two weeks after William received Starr’s letter, 1st Lt Starr Sutherland, Jr. was killed in action in Luxembourg on January 4, 1945. 

His parents, Starr and Ruth Sutherland, received a letter of condolence from General George Patton writing in part, 

"You should be very proud to be the parents of this man. I know that you are and I know that this pride will sustain you in your grief over his unfortunate death."

In 1984 the Dehn family visited the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Starr Dehn had his picture taken at Starr Sutherland’s grave.

Starr Sr, Ruth, Starr Jr. and George Sutherland, 1943
Courtesy of MR Johnson
Since our first contact with Starr Dehn, we have discovered many other facts about the Sutherland family. 

Starr, Sr. was a history teacher and tennis coach at Lincoln High School and Starr’s mother Ruth was a charter member of Post 227 Auxiliary. 

From the 1940 census we discover a younger brother George.

Dixie Rhode, a member of the Auxiliary, related that her family was good friends with the Sutherlands and as an eight-year-old girl she had a crush on Starr. 
L-R Dixie Rhode, Doug Cerretti, Mary Robertson Johnson at Post 227 August 2022. Photos by RB White. Mary Sutherland and Mary Robertson Johnson in 1996 photo courtesy MR Johnson.

Most unexpectedly Dixie brought her good friend Mary Robertson Johnson to Starr Dehn’s visit to Post 227. Remarkably, Mary is a Lincoln High School classmate of Starr Sutherland, class of 1940 and 100-years young. Mary was also very close to the Sutherland family after Starr’s death. 

Starr Dehn was ecstatic to meet people who actually knew his namesake. With information supplied by Mary we discovered that Starr’s brother George has a son named …, you guessed it, Starr Sutherland, named after his Uncle. We have talked with him and look forward to his visit to Post 227.

Ensign William Dehn.
Photo courtesy S Dehn
I would like to end this story with Starr’s best friend, William Dehn. 

William left the Navy after WWII as a Lieutenant, Jr. Grade after serving on an Escort Carrier in the Pacific. 

As a young man, he made a list of life goals, his #1 goal, have a son... he had four. 

William is one of the veterans who came home and lived his life and raised a family. 
William Dehn and his sons Mike, Frank, William and Starr, 1985. Photo courtesy S Dehn
Starr Sutherland, Jr. who made the ultimate sacrifice was not able to do this but he will be in our hearts and will always be remembered.

Please visit Post 227’s our webpage (shorelinepost227.com) for more information on 1st Lt Starr Sutherland, Jr.

--
Starr Sutherland Jr.'s letter to William Dehn

      18 December 1944

Dear William,
Just have a few moments - long enough to write a short note to let you know where I am and how things are. Also time enough to ask you to let me know how you and Jane are.

Well Roomie, I've been on the Third Army front for almost two months and am ready for the armistice. I been in too many close ones to suit me and am now counting the days till this all is over and we're home again.

It looks as tho you and I will lose our bet with the professor. He'll gloat over that - wait and see.

I hope you have had opportunities to be with Jane. Marriage is a difficult problem during wartime, but probably not much of one for you too. You can't imagine how much my family enjoyed Jane and your visit with us that day. I don't have to tell you how happy I was to see you both.

When I get married, we shall have to have many nights together. We'll have the wives prepare dinner - & the drinks for us while we lounge before the fireplace in our bare feet. Afterward, we'll wax you & Jane in bridge - or maybe you & I can beat the women. Life will be wonderful. All that has to happen now is for the powers involved to agree to cease this fight. You and I are doing our part to speed the victory.

Well William, there's no other man any higher on my totem pole than you. You've known that for a long time. My very best wishes and luck to you and your Jane. Anytime there is anything I can do, Roomie, just say the word.
I'm mighty glad to be a Fiji.


Fraternally,
Starr



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People connected with the Starr Sutherland Jr. family expected to attend Saturday's BBQ

Thursday, August 18, 2022

American Legion Hall
Starr Sutherland, Jr. American Legion Post 227 is inviting the community to their BBQ on Saturday, August 20, 2022 from 1:30 - 4pm (see previous article).

A special speaker, Starr Dehn, is the son of Sutherland's long time friend Bill Dehn and is named for him.

Now the Post has been advised of some special guests coming to join them.  

This visit Saturday is getting better and better all the time with new guests coming. Dixie Rhode knew the Sutherland family and as an 8-year-old had a crush on Starr Sutherland. 

More amazingly, Mary Robertson Johnson will be coming. She was Starr Sutherland’s classmate, Lincoln High School, Class of 1940. She is 100-years-old and very close to the family serving as the caregiver for Ruth, Starr’s mother! 

Starr Dehn will be ecstatic, being able to talk with people who knew the man he was named after.

Starr Sutherland Jr. Post 227 is located at 14521 17th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155-0193


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Starr Sutherland, Jr. Post 227 August 20th BBQ and speaker

Sunday, August 14, 2022

 
Center: Starr Sutherland, Jr.  Right: Starr Dehn in 1985 at Starr Sutherland Jr’s grave at the Luxembourg American Cemetery
Bill Dehn and Starr Sutherland, Jr. were University of Washington students, roommates, fraternity brothers and best friends. Both left school to serve their country during WWII. Starr Sutherland was KIA January 4, 1945 during the Battle of the Bulge. To honor Starr’s service and friendship, Bill named his youngest son after him.

Starr Sutherland, Jr. Post 227 of The American Legion is honored to host Starr Dehn who will tell us about the Dehn family remembrances of Starr Sutherland, Jr.

Food service begins at 1:30pm

Veterans, Family, Friends and the Community are welcome to join us!

The Starr Sutherland Jr. Post 227 is located at 14521 17th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155-0193



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Jerry Pickard’s family donates his Navy jacket to Northwest Veterans Museum

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Jonathan Picard presents Jerry's jacket to Carl Kurfess of
the NW Veterans Museum. Photo by Doug Cerretti
By Doug Cerretti

The family of Jerry Pickard donated his Navy jacket to the Northwest Veterans Museum in a ceremony at Heroes' Café Lynnwood last Tuesday July 26, 2022. 

Jerry’s grandson, Jonathan Picard, presented the jacket to Carl Kurfess of the Northwest Veterans Museum 19921 Poplar Way, Lynnwood, Washington 98036 in Heritage Park.

The jacket represents the time Jerry served as a photographer with the P2V Neptune Squadron based at the Whidbey Island, WA Naval Air Station.

Jerry Pickard
The P2V Neptune was an anti-submarine/surveillance aircraft flying the Pacific and Arctic usually looking for Russian boats and installations. 

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The Origin of the Shoreline Veterans Recognition Plaza

Sunday, July 31, 2022

Shoreline Veterans' Recognition Plaza

Look for the veterans group at the Shoreline Farmers Market
August 13 and September 10, 2022

The Origin of the Shoreline Veterans Recognition Plaza

By Doug Cerretti
Photos courtesy Shoreline Veterans Association except as noted

It all began over ice cream. 

In early 2010, Veterans Frank Moll and Bob Grasmick were attending an ice cream social at Ridgecrest elementary school. Frank was sitting at a table when Bob approached and asked what he was up to. 

Dwight Stevens, left, and Frank Moll, right taking brick orders
at a community event. Photo by Jerry Pickard.
Frank said he was working on à plan to honor veterans in Shoreline. As they continued talking Bob invited Frank to join Starr Sutherland, Jr Post 227 of The American Legion and Frank said he would join if Bob would join him to help with the plan to honor veterans. 

Both agreed. Soon after, Frank Moll recruited Dwight Stevens to work on the project and the Shoreline Veterans Association was formed with Frank Moll as Founder and Dwight Stevens as Chairman. 

Bob Grasmick, left, being presented a certificate by Commander Larry Fisher.
Photo by Jerry Pickard
Besides Moll, Grasmick and Stevens, other Legion Post 227 members joined the Shoreline Veterans Association including Raymond Coffey, Russell Greaby, Gerry Shogren and Post 227 Auxiliary members Lois Grasmick (Bob's wife), Phyllis Moll (Frank's wife) and Marcia Sanders. 

Other members who joined the Association were Sonny Alvarez, John Fahnestock, Marcie Riedinger and Lynn Cheney. 

On July 28, 2014 the Shoreline City Council voted 7 to 0 for approval of the Veterans Recognition Plaza after a presentation by Dick Deal, City Parks Director, and Dwight Stevens, Chairman of the Shoreline Veterans Association. 

Architect's design
The Association then set to work with a goal of building a Veterans Recognition Plaza adjacent to Shoreline City Hall. Post 227 Member, Chris Eggen, who at the time was Shoreline Deputy Mayor, helped secure the cooperation of the city and an architect was commissioned to design the plaza. 

Next began the campaign of raising the needed funds. The Veterans Recognition Plaza would contain five benches, five granite obelisks representing the military services, a flagpole at the center of the plaza and an area paved with red bricks that could be engraved to honor a veteran.

Whenever veteran-related meetings occurred over the next several years, you would see Dwight Stevens manning a table, selling bricks to raise funds. 

Dwight Stevens and County Councilmember Rod Dembowski
In addition the Starr Sutherland, Jr. Post 227 of The American Legion made a significant contribution and King County Councilman Rod Dembowski arranged for the county to make a large contribution for the project. 

When it became clear that the needed funding would be forthcoming, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site of July 6, 2015. After six years from inception the plaza was completed and a dedication ceremony was held May 21, 2016. 

Groundbreaking
The plaza is a thing of beauty and a fitting tribute to the many veterans who have served and future veterans who are currently serving their nation. Unfortunately, Frank Moll passed away before seeing the results of the project he started.

Dwight and Helen Stevens at the dedication
The nearly 500 bricks that are already in place at the Shoreline Veterans Recognition Plaza by Shoreline City Hall are a permanent reminder of our Friends and Relatives who have served in the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines to preserve our hard earned and fought for Freedoms.

The Veterans Recognition Plaza is located north of Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline 98133.

Buy a Brick

Engraved bricks to honor Veterans past and present can be purchased for a $100 donation. A single brick can be engraved with the Veteran's name, service branch and years served. You can choose to have your brick engraved at the Plaza or shipped to you to display at home. This would be a great gift to honor a Veteran family member or friend.

Bricks can be purchased online from The American Legion Post 227’s webpage or you can print out the order form, fill it out and mail it in with your check or credit card number. Purchases are tax deductible as the Shoreline Veterans Association is a 501 (c) 19 non-profit.

In the near future, the Shoreline Veterans Association will have a booth at Shoreline Farmers Market https://shorelinefarmersmarket.org/home 
August 13 and September 10 from 10 am to 2 pm. 
Sample bricks will be displayed and orders taken.



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