Patriotism is put to the test

By Jim Haley

Herald Writer

The small knot of folks who organize most Snohomish County Veterans Day events have a complaint.

What grates on them is that they are usually almost alone when it comes to honoring the military and those who gave their lives in the service of their country.

In recent years, the general public has shown less and less interest in paying homage to those who protect us.

That’s something members of the Snohomish County Central Memorial Day Committee hope will change in the wake of the patriotic fervor that has followed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"I think this ceremony will be a test of how true this patriotism is," said Helen Taylor of the Marcus Whitman Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. It will show "if we are who we say we are."

The group’s ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday at the eternal flame burning outside the Snohomish County Courthouse, 3000 Rockefeller Ave. in Everett.

Related story:

Ceremonies honor veterans this weekend

The committee is a coalition of patriotic and fraternal groups that for decades have attempted to focus attention on special days each year that are meant to conjure up a fervor for the flag.

Instead, folks increasingly have been more focused on three-day weekends and picnicking, said Brad Pilkenton, chairman of the committee.

"I don’t think people are more patriotic than they were on Sept. 11," said Marian Dent of the Fleet Reserve Association. "It’s just that (patriotism) is being brought out now. It’s just a realization that this is happening to our country, and it brought everybody together in the process."

The committee met last weekend to put the finishing touches on Sunday’s ceremony, which will feature patriotic songs and a talk by Vietnam helicopter pilot John-Michael Hendrix.

A dilemma faced by the committee is that many of its members are getting older and not a lot of younger people are participating in the planning of the activities. The group is always seeking younger people’s participation.

Members complained that Everett is the home port for a U.S. Navy base, yet not even the sailors take a great deal of interest in patriotic ceremony.

Pilkenton, however, said that could change. Those with the military services now will be the war veterans of the future after serving in Afghanistan, he said.

Maybe the fact that the terrorists struck our homeland will bring people back to the old-fashioned notion that we have to look out for one another, added Oscar Hoglund, also of the Fleet Reserve Association.

"This brought us to a point where we said, ‘Hey, wait a minute. Maybe it’s important what happens to the guy next door,’" Hoglund said.

You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447 or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com.

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