EVERETT—Approximately 150 attended the second annual Port of Everett Memorial Day Ceremony at Pacific Rim Plaza to honor the brave men and women who died in war.
The event was opened, and emceed, by Lt. Colonel Dan Mathews, Retired Air Force veteran before Robin Hilt performed the National Anthem.
Chaplain Lt. Kurtis Matheny, U.S. Navy, then read the invocation and benediction.
“As we honor and reflect on this solemn day we give thanks to all who paid the ultimate price and laid down their lives in the service of this great nation,” said Matheny. “As we pray for every member, many who still carry with them the wounds and trauma that come from the battlefield, we also pray for and recognize today every man and woman who died for the defense of, and to preserve, the liberty and freedom that we get to experience here in the United States of America.”
Lt. Matheny was followed by Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin who delivered a proclamation officially recognizing Memorial Day in the City of Everett. Mayor Franklin shared that this year’s Memorial Day carried a “deeply personal weight” to her as just two weeks ago her, and her family, laid her father to rest.
Mayor Franklin’s father, Charles “Chuck” Koehn, was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving as a radar man patrolling the South China Sea. He was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary medal for his Vietnam War service and a Naval Unit Commendation ribbon for his role in the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964. He proudly served in the Navy for six years.
Charles “Chuck” Sheridan Koehn passed away in the comfort of his home in Eugene, Oregon, on February 3, 2025.
“His time in the service shaped him as a father and leader and, in turn, that shaped my brothers and I,” shared Mayor Franklin. “While I’m mourning the loss of my dad I’m also mourning all of those we’ve lost: dads, brothers, sisters, mothers, and friends who’s lives were dedicated to the service of our country. Serving in the military is not just a duty, it’s a profound act of courage. It takes a special kind of person to stand forward and protect this nation.”
Mayor Franklin continued that the City of Everett’s connection to the military, by way of its Naval base, is part of its identity and its pride.
Speaking on behalf of the Port of Everett was Glen Bachman, Port Commission President and Vietnam Vet, who shared that whenever he wears his veteran’s hat he is frequently stopped by people thanking him for his service. He said in these instances it occurred to him it isn’t about the veteran standing there in front of them, but about those who are no longer here.
Bachman shared that he has quite a few high school friends with names on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. and always makes it an effort to pay his respects whenever he’s there.
“I’m happy, for those who do recognize the importance of today, that we honor in such a way and set aside that it’s not just forty percent off the big buck stores,” said Bachman.
Captain Stacy Wuthier, who recently assumed command of Naval Station Everett in 2024, was keynote speaker at Monday’s ceremony.
Prior to being stationed in Everett, Wuthier was stationed at the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Ballston Spa, New York as Commanding Officer. She has commanded the USS Jackson Blue Crew out of San Diego, California, as Executive Officer. Her decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals, and multiple unit commendations.
“Today we gather not just to honor names carved in stone but to remember the lives behind those names. The men and women who gave their lives in service for something greater than themselves, for our freedom, our peace, and our future,” said Captain Withier. “Remembrance is not passive. It’s an active duty we all share.”
A moment of silence was then led by Mukilteo Councilman Mike Dixon before Station Everett while the Cascadia Pipe Band (Kyle Gaul) performed Amazing Grace.
Dignitaries attending this year’s event were Port of Everett Commissioners David Simpson and Tom Stiger; Everett City Councilman Scott Bader; Snohomish County Superior Court Judges Karen Moore and Cindy Larsen, Jessica Corbin representing U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02); Everett Police Chief John DeRousse; and Retired Navy Captain Doug Roulstone.
One of the earlier Memorial Day ceremonies was believed to be held by three Black Americans on May 1, 1865, in Charleston, South Carolina – less than a month after the Civil War had ended. The ceremony included a parade to honor fallen union soldiers.
Waterloo, New York, first celebrated Memorial Day as a community event on May 5, 1866, and the first national commemoration of Memorial Day – originally known as Decoration Day – was held in Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868. For the last 100 years Memorial Day has been observed on May 30 but since 1971 it has been recognized on the last Monday of May.
This year’s Memorial Day honors the nearly 1.2 million Military personnel, of all branches of the military, who died serving the U.S. military since the Revolutionary War.
May also happens to be the month which honors Gold Star Families — families who have lost a loved one in military service – a permanent place to pay tribute to their loved ones.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
