On Memorial Day 2009, hundreds of people attended the groundbreaking ceremony in Medical Lake, WA, for the first state cemetery for veterans of the armed forces. The Patriot Guard Riders, members from several Spokane-area motorcycle clubs, volunteered to help direct traffic, pass out bottled water, and park cars for veterans as requested. Governor Chris Gregoire has said, “With this new cemetery, we will be able to properly honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans in the inland northwest.”

What was my small, small role? I'm Ecology's Reclaimed Water Engineer outside of headquarters in Lacey, and the facility manager for the City of Medical Lake's Wastewater Reclamation Facility. The grounds will be irrigated with reclaimed water, thus preserving the significantly stressed potable water supply for its highest use and providing the grounds with an efficient and reliable supply of water. This really means that the city's staff has already done all the work, and I'm just helping with paperwork!!