KPLU Local News
(2009-12-16)
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The Memorial Wall outside Seattle's Memorial Stadium. It carries 762 names of fallen World War II soldiers who attended Seattle area schools.
Gary Davis photo.
In a Seattle of a bygone era, high school football was big-time sports. When the school district proudly dedicated its new athletic field in 1947 - on property given by the city - they named it Seattle High School Memorial Stadium. It was deemed a fitting tribute to the students who were killed in the Second World War. One of them was Garrette Mead Van Riper, who died when his Navy carrier was torpedoed. His brother Roy says he was a happy kid.
"He played in the bands at Ballard High School, and orchestra. He was working at Boeing Aircraft Company at the time he decided he would volunteer."
Garrette Van Riper's name is one of 762 engraved on a limestone wall outside Memorial Stadium. The wall was added to the site in 1951. Seattle Center and school district leaders say it will be preserved if the land swap is approved. But one local veterans group wants more than the wall saved. Guy Gallipeau of American Legion Post 1 in Seattle says the original stadium is the shrine.
"That is a memorial, it should remain a memorial. As far as I can see this is their resting place."
Gallipeau realizes his plea is a long shot. He says if the existing stadium has to be demolished, the memorial wall should be attached to the new one.
As we talk, you can hear the sounds of construction from across the street at the new Gates Foundation headquarters. The area is under enormous development pressure. As density increases, the city is looking for open space. The school district needs options for future school sites. The land swap gives each something they desire. It also relieves the school district from having to maintain the memorial.
Seattle Center director Robert Nellams would be its new landlord. He says he understands the veterans concerns over the memorial's future.
"How would we know that this would be taken care of. I say look around Seattle Center for the things we maintain."
As a citizens committee put together the Center's stadium plans, Nellams says they got a wonderful surprise. The woman whose design was chosen for the Memorial Wall showed up to testify. Marianne Hansen recently told the City Council she supports the wall's preservation.
"I think it's very important we maintain the memorial in a prominent place that really honors the names of the people who died."
Current designs place the memorial wall near the entrance to a rebuilt stadium. Its exact location won't be decided until the school board and the city council give their approval, and the public has had a chance to comment. Gary Davis, KPLU News, Seattle.
Seattle Public Schools hosts two public hearings to receive comment on the proposed project, detailed in a Memorandum of Agreement. The first hearing is Thursday, Dec. 17th, at the Stanford Center auditorium, 2445 Third Avenue South at 5:30 p.m.
The time and date of the second hearing has not been announced.
Seattle Center Master Plan (Century 21 Committee)
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