Run to Tahoma

For the last several years I have made it a practice to visit the Tahoma VA National Cemetery over the Memorial Day weekend to do a sketch and meditate on the sacrifice commemorated there.

I also leave flowers at the grave of the first soldier killed in Afghanistan. I make a visit to the grave of a soldier whose mother contacted me a few years ago after I posted a sketch of his headstone. I take a photo and send it to his parents so they can see the flowers that they've arranged to be placed there. And then I leave flowers at the grave of a Civil War veteran.

After having done this for so many years there's not much new to sketch. This year I learned of the Unforgotten, Run to Tahoma. A large group of veterans on motorcycles escorted the remains of three unclaimed veterans from Kitsap County. I did four vignettes sketches on a small sketchbook page. There were over 100 riders escorting the deceased. It was raining slightly so I protected my page and didn't add color there. At home I also collaged the insignia of the sponsoring organizations.

Remember the real purpose of Memorial Day. 

 

--by Kate Buike

Remember

Since I returned to sketching, it has been my tradition to sketch and meditate on the cost of our freedom and democracy at Tahoma National (VA) Cemetery on a day close to Memorial Day.

For this year's sketch I chose the grave of CPL Frederick Talbert, Killed in Action during WWII on March 2 1945. I now wish I'd taken a photo of the marker as I cannot find any record of him buried at Tahoma though he clearly is. I'd hoped to find more information about him but even a web search turned up nothing.




--  Kate Buike
A more extensive post is on my personal blog.  

Lest we forget....

The day before Memorial Day - In remembrance of our war dead and their families......

Though I never want to deal the crowds on Memorial Day itself, for the past few years I have visited Tahoma National Cemetery in the days just prior.  I take flowers to put on grave sites without them and then I do one or two sketches while I think about the sacrifice represented there. 

I went this morning before it became too hot but I still sweltered in the sun as I sketched.  I knew I wanted to attempt the wide scene as The Mountain would be out!  This VA cemetery is situated such that Mt. Rainier can be seen over the honored dead.  And it was today!  



While sketching a couple people came up to look and talk.  One was Laurie, whose son is buried here.  She started Lion Heart Heroes Foundation.  A couple men also stopped.  Like me, they knew no one buried there but just thought it was the right thing to visit and pay respects.

More details on my personal blog.  

--Kate Buike