Young Navy officer’s death was loss for all

With all the breaking news in our country lately, it’s sometimes difficult to pause long enough to absorb a single story before another one comes along to take its place in the media and our minds. Before we move on to other issues that will consume our thoughts and time, it seems fitting to pay respects to Ensign Carrie Shoemaker, the young naval officer who was killed late last month in a hit-and-run incident while she was walking in downtown Everett.

Shoemaker was one of several people who died in car crashes or car-pedestrian crashes the weekend of Oct. 26 and 27. Each life lost in that two-day period was valuable and greatly mourned by many. Perhaps Shoemaker’s death attracted extra attention because she was a Navy officer on a brief visit to our city. Learning of her accomplishments at such a young age and seeing pictures of her broad smile brought home in a powerful way the loss that occurs with every such death.

Shoemaker put herself through Duke University with help from the Navy ROTC program. She earned degrees in electrical engineering and biomedical engineering in less time than it takes most college students to complete one major. She was about to receive the Navy Achievement Medal from her ship’s captain. She served as her ship’s lay religious leader. When she noticed someone without a winter coat, she bought him one and gave it anonymously. And she was just 23.

As her mother, Denice Shoemaker, said after attending her daughter’s memorial service at Naval Station Everett, "She was one of those kids that you raise and you just say, ‘This was way too easy.’ She was wonderful. The country needs people like her right now."

Car crashes, even hit-and-run incidents, can and do happen everywhere. That isn’t any comfort to us right now. It stings to know that Shoemaker’s friends, family and fellow sailors will forever remember Everett as the city where she died. We hope they’ll also remember us as a community that values its naval station, the sailors and their families. In return, we’ll remember that her life was proof there are people like her right now serving in our military and living throughout our country.

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