During the Dec. 20 windstorm that blew through Port Townsend, a 60-foot Douglas fir became uprooted and crashed into the Fort Worden Military Cemetery on Spruce Street. Several headstones were damaged. (Jeannie McMacken/Peninsula Daily News)

During the Dec. 20 windstorm that blew through Port Townsend, a 60-foot Douglas fir became uprooted and crashed into the Fort Worden Military Cemetery on Spruce Street. Several headstones were damaged. (Jeannie McMacken/Peninsula Daily News)

Damage to military cemetery at Fort Worden evaluated after December storm

PORT TOWNSEND — A crew from Joint Base Lewis-McChord is expected to decide Monday how to remove a fallen 60-foot Douglas fir that smashed at least three headstones at the Fort Worden Military Cemetery during a windstorm.

The number of headstones damaged in the Dec. 20 storm won’t be known until after the area is examined closely next week, according to Gary Dangerfield, spokesman for Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).

The tree, which was located inside the historic cemetery’s iron fence perimeter, was uprooted and fell into the southeast corner of the area.

It landed mostly between the rows of headstones, coming down at an angle. Some of the markers were damaged from the weight of the trunk and its limbs. It isn’t known yet whose headstones have been damaged.

“We will have a team from the JBLM Department of Public Works-Fish and Wildlife intern program out to determine what needs to be done and how we will remove the tree and the root ball,” Dangerfield said.

Although the site is located on the Fort Worden campus, the cemetery is managed by JBLM and ground maintenance is performed by a privately contracted company, Skookum.

As of Wednesday, limbs had been removed, but the felled tree and yellow caution tape remain. The ground is saturated because of the wet weather Port Townsend has experienced throughout the past few months.

Brian Hagerman, Olympic View area manager for Washington State Parks, alerted JBLM to the damage.

Dangerfield said representatives from JBLM visited the site Dec. 28 to view the damage first-hand and determine next steps.

The intern team expected to be at the site Monday is from a special unit that helps transition military members out of active duty to civilian life and provides them a skill set in the forestry sector.

“The team will work with Fort Worden’s ground crew to get this done,” Dangerfield said.

Four additional firs along the fence will be investigated and considered for removal because of their proximity to the fallen tree.

Part of the assessment will be to erect temporary markers for headstones that were damaged.

“We can’t promise that this will happen on Monday, but we hope to get it completed as soon as possible,” Dangerfield said.

A military funeral is scheduled for the Fort Worden Military Cemetery the following weekend.

Established in 1902, the historic cemetery has 442 interred military personnel, civilians and unknowns on a little more than 1 acre. Its first interment was June 2, 1902.

________

Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Budget goals discussed at Port Angeles council meeting

Ideas sorted into short- and long-term goals

Chimacum drainage district is reactivated

Next steps are to appoint an interim board, adopt assessment system

A helicopter joins the firefighting effort Tuesday afternoon at the Belgian Fire near Brinnon. (Brinnon Fire Department)
Belgian fire under control

Firefighters remained on scene Wednesday

Electronics recycling event set for Saturday

The Port Angeles Noon Rotary will host an electronics… Continue reading

Lane closure set Wednesday for art installation

The southbound lane of Race Street in Port Angeles… Continue reading

Beachgoers look for a spot on the sand on Sunday afternoon at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend. Mount Rainier looms in the distance. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Summer sand

Beachgoers look for a spot on the sand on Sunday afternoon at… Continue reading

First Fed accused in Ponzi scheme

Resignations came amid $107M lawsuit

Ballots for Aug. 5 primary election to be mailed today

Hospital commission, Port Angeles, Port Townsend city council races to be determined

Port Angeles to host forum on Rayonier cleanup

Special meeting scheduled for Tuesday

Drought conditions may require trucks to bring water to West End

Clallam Bay/Seiku and Island View water systems are under stage… Continue reading

Clallam County Democrats to host candidate forums

The Clallam County Democrats will host a series of… Continue reading