Regarding the article, “SR 99 to be renamed for Snohomish black Civil War soldier”: I am a Herald reader over 80 years old and have lived a majority of my life in Snohomish County, and still do.
Highway 99 has been named thus for as long as I can remember. My grandparents lived in rural Mount Vernon when I was raised in East Everett. We frequently took car trips up to visit with my parents and two older sisters. It as always an adventure along Highway 99, and a trip highly anticipated. Before I was able to read, my sisters would read the signboards along the way to me, and point out interesting sights. The trip, in those days, was largely along rural farms, etc. Plus, we traveled the highway to points south of Everett.
My question is: Don’t our legislators have anything more important to do than dream about what icon they will change the name of? This gentleman from Snohomish could be honored by naming something new or something that doesn’t affect the whole state, without destroying the old Highway 99. (There are still places, both north and south that have preserved sections that weren’t taken out by Interstate 5 where you can leave the freeway and enjoy some of the original small towns and sights along the way.)
No disrespect to the Civil War veteran, Mr. Stewart, but isn’t there something besides our beloved Highway 99 that we can name to honor him? There was no such Highway 99 during the time he was alive. Our children all recall our trips to Seattle via Highway 99 long before the interstate, and still use it when going to places this side of downtown Seattle. It just breaks my heart to sit by and watch all of our old friends become either renamed or discarded.
Sharon McFarland
Lynnwood
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