More Than Monuments: Highline Memorials Preserve Stories of Service and Sacrifice

Memorial Day is a solemn day of mourning and honoring the U.S. military and other service members who have died while serving our country. While many have plans to boat, BBQ or just take the day off, we hope you will take time to visit and pay respects to many of the local memorials around your area.

[This article is part of The Highline Journal’s America at 250: Northwest Stories.]

Driving south on Des Moines Memorial Drive the other day, I noticed flags at the memorial wall located at 156th and Des Moines Memorial Drive. As mentioned in this recent story, the Memorial Day Ceremony is just a few days away. But what are some other memorials in the Highline and Seattle area?

Here are a few that are thought provoking, and a great reason to stop and reflect:

Highline Memorial Stadium
How many of us say the full name “Highline Memorial Stadium”, not just “Highline Stadium?” As outlined on the Highline High School history page, the stadium was first built in 1946 to honor the 40 graduates of Highline HS who died in World War II. The page adds:

“As the district expanded with more high schools, an improved Highline Memorial Field with a concrete stadium was rededicated in 1963 to honor all Highline district alumni who died in World War II.”

This photo shows the panel from the history wall.

Steven J Underwood Memorial Park in Des Moines

This page from Seattle Southside describes the park, but pays no tribute to Officer Underwood. He was a police officer for the City of Des Moines who was killed on Pacific Highway South in the line of duty on March 7, 2001. This page from Officer Down has more details. This is a hard page for me to read because I had a high school acquaintance who was murdered by the Green River killer near the area where Officer Underwood was murdered. That area was very dangerous back then, but is one of the best memorials to Officer Underwood, and my acquaintance. The area is a much safer than we had in the 80s and part of the 90s.

Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center

This is a hard memorial to write about. I knew Officer Cox’s mother through various community volunteer groups. I was so sad when her son was killed in the line of duty. Reading his biography makes me sad. Yet I often drive by the park in White Center named after him without really thinking about Officer Cox or his sacrifice. 

The park features sports fields, a community center constructed in 1940, a walking path and more. 

Mt Rainier High School Memorial Wall

The wall is inside the building and thus not accessible to the public. But, it is still worth noting. It has names of alums who have died while serving in the US military. Most are from Vietnam, but a few are from more recent wars. My hope is that students and adults who walk by it on the way to a sports event, concert or education will stop and reflect about the sacrifice these men made.

Blue Star Highway Marker in Normandy Park

At Normandy Park town hall, there’s a marker for the Blue Star Memorial project. I had to look up Blue Star: what is it? From the web site of the Washington Garden Clubs:

"The Blue Star Memorial Program honors all men and women that serve in the United States Armed Services. This program began with the planting of 8,000 Dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted this program and began a Blue Star Highway system that covers thousands of miles across the Continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. A large metal Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker was placed at appropriate locations along the way.

The Blue Star became an icon in World War II and was seen on flags and banners in homes for sons and daughters away at war, and in churches and businesses. This program has been active all through the years to the present, a fitting tribute to our Armed Forces and especially now." 

Other memorials in the Seattle area that are easy to overlook

We hear the word “memorial” and it seems so common we just ignore it. Here are a few I’d like to highlight:

• Memorial Way at the University of Washington: built to honor UW students, alums and associated people who died in World War I. This page has info about Memorial Way and other memorials on campus, including Medal of Honor recipients and Spanish Civil War participants in the Lincoln Brigade.
• Seattle Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center: like Highline Stadium, built as a memorial to alums who died in our country’s service. The stadium is currently under re-construction and will open again in 2027.
• Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill: honors those who fought in the Spanish-American war as outlined on this article from History Link. It includes the Seattle Asian Art Museum, a water tower with amazing views for those who climb the stairs, and summer theater and concerts. 
• Jimi Hendrix Memorial in Renton honors world famous musician and Seattle native. 

We invite readers to be part of this series!
America at 250: Northwest Stories

Have you visited a Pacific Northwest site that deepened your understanding of our nation’s past? Do you have a personal story connected to a local landmark? Do you have recommendations?

As we approach America’s 250th birthday, we hope to tell the story of our country through the voices of our community — one place at a time.

Send your story to idea to us at info@TheHighlineJournal.com