WHO KNEW IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL?
Tahoma National Cemetery
I never really thought of this cemetery as being a destination. It was just there. I had no need to see it. But this morning I drove out to see The Fuchsia Lady to purchase 3 fuchsias to hang in front of our house. On the way I drove right past the cemetery and thought, hmmmm, it is a beautiful morning and I am a bit early for the nursery to open, so I drove on in. What a sight. It seems like it has only been around for about 10 years, but to my surprise it opened in 1997!
I found this on the Tahoma National Cemetery website:
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Tahoma National Cemetery was established Nov. 11, 1993, and opened for interments on Oct. 1, 1997. The cemetery was dedicated on Sept. 26, 1997. A small expansion projects was completed in March 2006, the $6 million project included over 12,000 new columbarium niches, more than 5,000 pre-placed crypts, road improvements, new signage, a third committal shelter and a third funeral cortege lane at the Public Information Center. Phase II expansion project was completed June 2014, the $24 million project included over 14,000 new columbarium niches, more than 9,000 pre-placed crypts, more than 6,000 in-ground garden cremation sites, two memorial walls and an ossuary. Two new roads for accessing the new burial sections were constructed using permeable asphalt. The three new columbarium complexes contain rain gardens and bio swales to help mitigate the need for storm water runoff and retention ponds.
Monument and Memorials
Tahoma has a Memorial walkway containing 36 memorials that commemorate soldiers of various 20th century wars, donated by various service organizations. At the northeast corner of the walkway is the POW-MIA flag. At the southwest corner of the walkway is a carillon that was donated by the Navy Fleet reserve Association Seattle branch 18 and was installed in 2010, dedicated to the volunteers of Tahoma National Cemetery.
Tahoma has a Memorial walkway containing 36 memorials that commemorate soldiers of various 20th century wars, donated by various service organizations. At the northeast corner of the walkway is the POW-MIA flag. At the southwest corner of the walkway is a carillon that was donated by the Navy Fleet reserve Association Seattle branch 18 and was installed in 2010, dedicated to the volunteers of Tahoma National Cemetery.
A Blue Star Memorial is located south of the Public Information Center. The marker was originally part of a banner that families displayed in their homes during the 1940s to signify that they had a loved one fighting in World War II. Today, the marker honors all veterans.
Once again, who knew!!?
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| There were several different sections like this. Full of tombstones |
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| This is where they have flag ceremonies |
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| Look at Mt. Rainier peeking through |
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| Look at all those names...and on and on it goes |
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| Alphabetically organized |
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