Legion, VFW console veterans

ARLINGTON — The scene downtown Tuesday was repeated throughout small-town America on Veterans Day.

Roughly 300 people lined both sides of Olympic Avenue to clap while the town’s veterans filed by. The Arlington High School Band played "God Bless America" and "America the Beautiful," closing with a trumpet solo of taps.

"It’s nice to acknowledge those people, because they went through holy hell," said Ken Casperson, an Arlington member of the Bothell-based Puget Sound Military Vehicle Collectors Club, which drove vintage military jeeps, trucks and scout cars in the parade.

Like many places, the public celebration here is a familiar ritual that has been carried out in Arlington for roughly 50 years, said Jim Barron, commander of Arlington’s American Legion Post 76.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

But after the public heads home, a more private ritual for the veterans begins as many of them convene at their local American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars halls.

The American Legion has at least seven halls in Snohomish County and vicinity, plus a few VFW halls.

Arlington’s Legion is headquartered on Olympic Avenue, right at the end of the parade route. The hall features a dimly lit lounge with a bar and several tables. A few have bright lights hanging over them, as does the pool table near the front.

Mary Fikes, the post’s former commander, said she feels a sense of security and peace when she walks through the door.

"It’s a home to come to," Fikes said. "It’s a sanctuary in a way."

Post commander Jim Barron agreed.

"It brings all vets together," Barron said. "It’s a camaraderie."

Indeed, the clack of balls at the pool table came from a game that united vets from different generations. Retired Navy Seabee Donald Becktell, commander of Arlington’s VFW Post 1561, was taking on Petty Officer 3rd Class Larry DeCandia of the USS Abraham Lincoln.

"We get to visit with people we haven’t seen for a while," Barron said. "A lot don’t come to the lounge very often. A lot aren’t even members of our post."

After each parade, the post’s auxiliary club — usually wives of veterans — prepares a meal and invites all vets to join in. Before Tuesday’s meal, the Arlington vets took a moment, as they always do, to honor prisoners of war and those missing in action by leaving a table space empty and lighting a candle.

"We do make everybody remember, we just mustn’t forget the POW/MIAs," Barron said.

Reporter Scott Morris: 425-339-3292 or smorris@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen goes through an informational slideshow about the current budget situation in Edmonds during a roundtable event at the Edmonds Waterfront Center on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor recommends $19M levy lid lift for November

The city’s biennial budget assumed a $6 million levy lid lift. The final levy amount is up to the City Council.

A firefighting helicopter carries a bucket of water from a nearby river to the Bolt Creek Fire on Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022, on U.S. 2 near Index, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Snohomish County property owners can prepare for wildfire season

Clean your roofs, gutters and flammable material while completing a 5-foot-buffer around your house.

(City of Everett)
Everett’s possible new stadium has a possible price tag

City staff said a stadium could be built for $82 million, lower than previous estimates. Bonds and private investment would pay for most of it.

Jennifer Humelo, right, hugs Art Cass outside of Full Life Care Snohomish County on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘I’ll lose everything’: Snohomish County’s only adult day health center to close

Full Life Care in Everett, which supports adults with disabilities, will shut its doors July 19 due to state funding challenges.

‘No Kings’ rallies draw thousands to Everett and throughout Snohomish County

Demonstrations were held nationwide to protest what organizers say is overreach by President Donald Trump and his administration.

Marysville is planning a new indoor sports facility, 350 apartments and a sizable hotel east of Ebey Waterfront Park. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New report shifts outlook of $25M Marysville sports complex

A report found a conceptual 100,000-square-foot sports complex may require public investment to pencil out.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Snohomish County Board of Health looking to fill vacancy

The county is accepting applications until the board seat is filled.

A recently finished log jam is visible along the Pilchuck River as a helicopter hovers in the distance to pick up a tree for another log jam up river on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in Granite Falls, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tulalip Tribes and DNR team up on salmon restoration project along the Pilchuck River

Tulalip Tribes and the state Department of Natural Resources are creating 30 log jams on the Upper Pilchuck River for salmon habitat.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.