Comrade Bob Kettle has called attention to the neglect of the World II Memorial Wall at Memorial Stadium on Facebook. The wall includes nearly 750 names of Seattle Public Schools alumni etched in stone to honor those young servicemen who in WWII gave their last full measure of devotion to our country.
According to Bob, “Now blighted memorial sits at the site. A rundown parking lot abuts it, with fountains and lighting long neglected, and trash strewn about. Graffiti covers the ticket stand that serves a “welcome” to the area.”
Comrade Kettle is in touch with the city and is investigating who to coordinate with to ensure the memorial remains in good condition. He is also researching what the plans are for the wall in the case the stadium is renovated. He will report back to the post leadership and membership his findings.
Category: Community Outreach
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Ft. Lawton Murder Case Sets the Scene For I Corps JAG Professional Development
U.S. Army Judge Advocates, paralegals and other personnel gathered at VFW Post 3063 Jan. 28, 2022, for a professional development opportunity that involved more than simply analyzing a case study or reading a leadership book.
Members of the I Corps Office of the Staff Judge Advocate took the trip on I-5 from Joint Base Lewis-McChord to VFW Post 3063 to start their professional development with a virtual discussion with attorney and author, Jack Hamann, who wrote the book, On American Soil.
According to the University of Washington Press website:
During the night of August 14, 1944, an Italian prisoner of war was lynched on the Fort Lawton army base in Seattle–a murder that shocked the nation and the international community. It was a time of deep segregation in the army, and the War Department was quick to charge three African American soldiers with first-degree murder, although there was no evidence linking them to the crime. Forty other black soldiers faced lesser charges over the incident, launching one of the largest and longest army trials of World War II.
In this harrowing story of race, privilege, and power, Jack Hamann explores the most overlooked civil rights event in American history. On American Soil raises important questions about how justice is carried out when a country is at war, offering vital lessons on the tensions between national security and individual rights.
After discussing the case with Hamann, the group bussed to Ft. Lawton for an in person look at the scene of the courts martial and the murder.
Even though it’s a case dating back to World War II, the lessons learned relating to race, the media, and the law were relevant to the soldiers, making for a rich and immersive professional development opportunity.
Post 3063 leadership were proud to host and provide a venue for these active duty legal professionals.
All Three Youth Essay Winners Place at District Level
This year we had entries for all three of the youth essay contests.
Nina Kieserman, a 15-year-old sophomore at Lincoln High School recited her district-winning Voice of Democracy essay at the Dec. 2 post business meeting (pictured left).
Rylan Calica, a 14-year-old eighth grader from Rochester, was our winning Patriot’s Pen entrant. He won for his grade at the district level (center).
Leela Baker, an 8-year-old 3rd grader from B.F. Day Elementary took first for the Youth Essay and also won at the district level (right).
State-level award winners will be announced at the Department’s Mid-Winter Conference in January. Congratulations and good luck, kids!
Wreaths Across America 2021
Today on National Wreaths Across America Day Post 3063 provided an honor guard at the Sons of the American Revolution-sponsored WAA event at Lake View Cemetery. It was a soggy morning but people young and old turned out to honor our fallen veterans. A couple scouts from the post’s sponsored Girl Scout Troop (#46953) participated as well.
