Photo By Staff Sgt. Ruth Harvie | Michael Patrick McGinn, the mayor of Seattle, fires a cannon during Fort Lawton's Post...... read more read more
FORT LAWTON, Wash. – Soldiers, veterans, and members of the community gathered at Fort Lawton to be part of the official closure, Feb. 25, 2012. The Army post was closed in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act and was hosted by soldiers of the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and 79th Sustainment Support Command.
“We celebrated over 100 years of history,” said Maj. Gen. William D. Frink, Jr., commander of the 79th SSC. More than 350 soldiers and civilians filled the post’s Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center to attend the lowering of the flag ceremony, which marked 112 years of military activity.
Despite the chilling rain and gloomy weather, families and veterans traveled to the center to soak in years of memories and support the event. Rows and rows of seats included veterans who had a connection to the base—many sporting hats and jackets displaying their branch of service and rank when they were actively serving.
“They brought memorabilia with them and they brought stories with them,” said Frink. The veterans shared rich stories about their service to Fort Lawton with other veterans and soldiers, one even telling a story dating back to the '30s. “It was like a reunion,” said Frink.
The official party included Maj. Gen. Frink, Col. Phillip S. Jolly, commander of the 364th ESC, Command Sgt. Maj. Vicki L. Briggs of the 364 ESC, and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert N. Roberson, Jr. of the 79th SSC. Guest speakers included Congressman Jim McDermott, Washington’s 7th Congressional District, retired Maj. Gen. James M. Collins, Jr., civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army, and Mayor Michael McGinn, city of Seattle.
Fort Lawton’s closure began with a team of eight soldiers who lowered the post flag around 10 a.m. A battery of field artillery soldiers performed a 21-gun salute as they took the flag down. During the ceremony, Frink presented McGinn with a commemorative flag representing the honor and closure of the post for the city of Seattle.
“It’s an act of remembrance,” said 2nd Lt. Ryan Knicely, with the Alpha 1/377 Field Artillery Regiment out of Fort Lewis, Wash. Knicely lead the 18 artillery soldiers in rendering the cannon salute and said he was honored to take part in officially decommissioning Fort Lawton with his troops.
When looking at its history, Fort Lawton dates back to 1900, where it was originally used as a coastal defense outpost to protect Puget Sound. It was named in honor of Maj. Gen. Henry Ware Lawton, who died during the Spanish-American War in the Philippines. More than 1 million troops passed through Fort Lawton during World War II when it was an important port of Embarkation to the Pacific theater. The 364th ESC was the last unit to leave the installation in Sept. 2011.
Although military activity will no longer be present, the Army will continue to retain jurisdiction of the cemetery. “It’s a cemetery that veterans can still be buried in,” said Collins.
Frink didn’t expect the ceremony to overflow with supporters - every seat was filled, including the balconies overlooking the main floor. “I think that really speaks to the significance of Fort Lawton to the U.S. Army soldiers, veterans, and families,” he said.
“It’s an important opportunity for us to practice the Army value of honor and to pay tribute today to good work that was done, particularly to the Army Reserve,” said Collins about the official closure.
“The strength of our nation is our Army. The strength of our Army is our soldiers. The strength of our Army is our families—we could not do what we do without the support of our community and the American people,” said Frink.
The post flag that served as a symbol of continuity and point of inspiration was lowered and folded for a final time. As it was lowered, artillery soldiers fired 21 rounds in rendering the highest honor to those who served at the fort throughout its history. The public watched the flag as it was neatly folded into the arms of a soldier and service members held their salute, knowing it would never be raised on Fort Lawton again.
| Date Taken: | 02.25.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.02.2012 14:16 |
| Story ID: | 84645 |
| Location: | FORT LAWTON, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 111 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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