Always remember

As I do every Memorial Day weekend, I went to Tahoma National Cemetery yesterday to pay my respects with flowers and sketches. I also bring a number of prints of my favorite sketch from past years to give to people.

On my way I stop at QFC to pick up two bouquets of red, white, and blue flowers (they look like dyed carnations). Once again, representatives of American Legion were there distributing poppies. I gave a donation for a couple poppies and gave them each the sketch print.

There are 3 graves I visit and at 2 of them I place flowers.

For the past few years, I always visit the grave of SGT Andrew McConnell so I can email his parents a photo of the flower arrangement they send. Some time ago I was contacted by his mother after she saw my sketch of his grave! And, yes, I did send her that sketch.

I placed flowers for Medal of Honor Recipient & Civil War veteran, Second Lieutenant Jesse T. Barrick and his wife, US Army nurse Sarah S. Barrick. Flowers also left for Sergeant First Class Nathan Ross Chapman — first American serviceman to die from hostile fire in the war in Afghanistan in 2002.

While at SGT Chapman’s grave, I met Rick and Craig hanging out near the grave of their brother, SSG Christopher Jon Van Der Horn who was killed in Action (KIA) in Iraq. His was the first combat death in 2006. More about Chris here and here .

From there the day got even more interesting. Rick first introduced me to Cary C. a teacher at a local school who brings his students to place flags on the Friday before Memorial Day. I got his contact info so I can sketch them next year! I also met the Director of Tahoma National Cemetery, Tom Yokes!

I sketched the grave site of SSG Van Der Horn and will send Rick the original and some prints for other family members. The text here is a temporarily attached block. The original I will send does not have it.

All that took a little too long as I didn’t have time to sketch the motorcycle groups who had arrived for “The Unforgotten, Run to Tahoma”. For the past many years, a huge group of riders escort the remains of a Kitsap county veteran from Port Orchard to Tahoma cemetery.

All the photos are here.