MARYSVILLE — A motorcade began at 10:30 sharp Tuesday in honor of Jayme Biendl, the corrections officer who was killed Jan. 29 while working in the chapel at the Washington State Reformatory.
Law enforcement officers on motorcycles, lights flashing, led the procession from the Marysville funeral home where Biendl’s family gathered Tuesday morning for a private service.
The start of the motorcade was watched by a small crowd that gathered a respectful distance from the funeral home.
The motorcade was expected to travel from Marysville south along I-5 and east on U.S. 2. The route was planned to take it past the Monroe Correctional Complex and then back to Everett for the memorial at Comcast Arena.
Firefighters created an impressive display in Monroe on Tuesday morning in Biendl’s honor. Snohomish County Fire District 3 and Snohomish County Fire District 7 positioned their ladder trucks at the entrance to the prison. They suspended a U.S. flag 57 feet above the ground.
Firefighters said the flag measured 20 feet by 30 feet.
Susan Judd Miller, of Snohomish, stopped by Tuesday morning to place a bouquet of carnations and daffodils at the roadside memorial in Biendl’s honor.
She recalled seeing Biendl at the Fred Meyer store in Monroe.
“It is just sad, really sad,” she said.
Tom Hubbard of Snohomish showed up to watch the motorcade arrive at the prison. Hubbard is with Christian Crusaders Motorcycle Ministry. He said he was thankful for the sunny day, but sad over the reason people were gathering.
Biendl should still be alive, he said.
“God looked into my heart and said I should show up today,” he said.
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