SNOHOMISH — A plan is in the early stages to put the Snohomish Veterans Memorial obelisk monument back to standing on the Carnegie Building’s grounds at First and Cedar.
The obelisk currently stands at the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Cemetery. It was moved a few years ago when the Carnegie underwent extensive construction.
This spring, a citizens committee discussed the designs for a presentation area for the monument’s return, and ideas to add additional monuments near it.
A committee of 23 members met in January, February and March. City planner Tom Kreinbring said a majority of members recommended placing a curved path on the lawn that would include an area with the memorial.
The memorial area could feature the obelisk and three additional veterans memorial features.
A dedication memorial, a memorial honoring the past, and a third “future” memorial could be sited near the obelisk, Kreinbring described. The “future” memorial would highlight the Purple Heart Medal for wounded veterans, noting Snohomish is an honorary Purple Heart City.
There’s more to do before saying anything is final, Kreinbring emphasized.
The obelisk stands nearly six feet tall. Its marblework is etched with the names of 13 Snohomish men who died in World War I, 51 World War II combat casualties, eight lost in the Korean War, six from the Vietnam War and the latest, Cpl. Jeffrey Starr, Snohomish’s lone Iraq War death on May 30, 2005.
It would return to the Carnegie to be placed on a new base featuring the arms of six Armed Forces branches.
A flagpole featuring the American Flag, with the POW-MIA flag and the state flag, could be close by.
The committee group members included veterans of all ages and representatives from Snohomish chapters of veterans service groups such as the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and local American Legion posts.
In 1960, a citizens committee had the memorial created. It was dedicated on May 31, 1961 on the Carnegie’s lawn, before a now-demolished annex building was grafted onto the Carnegie in 1968.
The 1961 dedication had a laying of corsages, a laying of wreaths, a firing squad, “Taps” and more, the event program outlines. Canadian-born Snohomish Mayor Oscar Wirsching unveiled the monument.
