HistoryLink is honored to offer a comprehensive roster of Washington citizens -- more than 9,000 -- who gave their lives in the service of their communities and country. The Roll of Honor, which is regularly updated, includes men and women who died in the Philippines (1899-1904) and subsequent military conflicts, as well as Public Safety Personnel -- law enforcement officers and firefighters -- who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Names are listed alphabetically for each category. Given its length, the roster of World War II casualties is further divided into alphabetical sections.
The Garden of Remembrance occupies a plaza adjacent to Benaroya Hall on 2nd Avenue at University Street in downtown Seattle. The understated memorial was designed by Murase Associates, Seattle, and incorporates 19 engraved black granite slabs, elegant plantings, and a system of waterfalls, channels, and pools. Priscilla "Patsy" Collins led the community fund drive for the Garden, which was formally dedicated on July 4, 1998.
| Number of War Casualties (Click for Roster) |
|
|---|---|
| Philippines | 44 |
| World War I (Partial List) |
949 |
| World War II A-F | G-L | M-R | S-Z |
6,503 |
| Korean War | 558 |
| Vietnam War | 1,122 |
| Grenada | 1 |
| Gulf War | 10 |
| Afghanistan | 56 |
| Iraq | 109 |
| Niger | 1 |
| Total (approximate) | 9,350 |
University of Washington "Interrupted Journey" World War II Memorial
The Interrupted Journey memorial is a tribute to the memory of the University of Washington students, alumni, faculty, and staff who gave their lives in World War II. Criteria for inclusion on the list are attendance at the University of Washington and death in combat or in direct support of allied forces between 1939 and 1945. The on-campus memorial consists of bronze plaques and a sculptural plaza at the flagpole directly in front of Parrington Hall.
Des Moines Way War Memorial
Although United States troops participated in World War I for barely a year and the loss of 37,000 American lives paled in comparison to the total of 13.6 million combat deaths, "The Great War" profoundly affected the national culture even in places as remote from the fighting as King County. In 1921, Seattle Garden Club president Lillian Gustin McEwan proposed planting elm trees along the eight-mile length of Des Moines Way to create "a living canopy" in honor of local war dead. The first trees were planted on Armistice (now Veterans) Day, November 11, 1921.
World War I heroes such as French generals Foche and Joffre visited King County early in the Memorial's development, but time and the elements took a heavy toll on the trees lining Des Moines Way. Lest local sacrifices be forgotten, the Seattle and Burien posts of the American Legion dedicated a new memorial at the intersection of Des Moines Way and South 156th Street on September 15, 1963. This roll of the approximately 460 King County and nearby residents who died in the "war to end war" is duplicated here.
Public Safety Officers Honor Roll
In 2002, HistoryLink began compiling a new statewide honor roll of public safety officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. The roster is incomplete and we welcome additional nominations, which may be emailed (with full names, key dates, and a description of the circumstances of the firefighter or officer's death) to [email protected].
