PORT TOWNSEND — A fallen tree that damaged several headstones at the Fort Worden Military Cemetery has been removed by a crew from Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Gary Dangerfield, base spokesman, said the 60-foot Douglas fir was evaluated on Monday and a crew returned Wednesday to remove it from cemetery grounds.
The Army used the situation as a training opportunity for interns from the Department of Public Works-Fish and Wildlife program.
Dangerfield said the intern team is a special unit that helps transition military members out of active duty to civilian life and provides them with a skill set in the forestry sector.
The tree damaged at least three headstones and Dangerfield said the markers will be replaced as soon as possible.
Dangerfield said it was important to the Army to remove the tree before the military funeral that was held on Saturday of James W. Davis, a 20-year career Army Sergeant First Class who had also served two years in the Navy.
More work at the cemetery, however, is left to be done.
“The large root ball that is still on site will be removed at a later date,” Dangerfield said.
He said crews also will assess four remaining firs that are on cemetery grounds adjacent to the tree that toppled during the Dec. 20 windstorm — a storm that caused power outages and damage throughout the area.
Although the historic military cemetery is on Washington State Parks property, Joint Base Lewis-McChord of Tacoma is responsible for its maintenance.
The 1- acre cemetery contains 442 interred military personnel.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
