Memorial interest faded

At the end of World War II, Spokane citizens created a memorial naming service personnel who lost their lives in service to the United States. That memorial was placed behind the Lincoln statue. The names were engraved in wood plaques, which deteriorated in time. They vowed to replace this memorial in stone; never happened.

Two hundred Spokane County residents lost their lives while serving this country during World War I.

In World War II, there were 926 deaths. Then Korea (111), Vietnam (174) and Iraq (13), for a total of 1,424 Spokane County residents. They should be remembered by all citizens.

The all-war memorial project was presented to the citizens of Spokane County for fundraising. No commitment by the public. The project died for the lack of money and interest.

All the high schools in Spokane used to have memorial plaques of deceased graduates that served in World War II and some with World War I. Today North Central and one Valley school have up-to-date names of graduates that served and gave their lives in service to the United States, in all five conflicts. NC’s display has Spokane’s only medal of honor recipient (Vietnam) SSGT Bruce Alan Grandstaff (’52 grad).

John Tuft

Spokane