North End in Tacoma in Pierce County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Marvin Alan Klegman Memorial
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 18, 2023
1. Marvin Alan Klegman Memorial Marker
February 28, 2001, another major earthquake in South Sound reawakened the memory of Kelcy Robert Allen of Kirkland, WA. He too had been a student of Lowell School during the 1949 earthquake. Kelcy remembered the school shaking. He also remembered how a patrol boy had taken his hand and had shouted, We've gotta get out! He later learned that falling bricks had killed the patrol boy who was leading him to safety. Having carried this memory for many years, Kelcy Allen came to Tacoma to find the name of the boy who had saved his life. It was important to Kelcy to thank the boy's family. At the Tacoma Public Library, Kelcy Allen found his answer. The 11-year-old hero was Marvin Alan Klegman.
Funded by the MARVIN KLEGMAN memorial committee and other generous donors
Griselda Babe Lehrer, Project Organizer/Chairperson
Sculpture by Larry Anderson
Setting by Marty Lyon
Dedicated September 11, 2003
Erected 2003 by Marvin Klegman Memorial Committee.
Topics. This
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Location. 47° 16.02′ N, 122° 27.947′ W. Marker is in Tacoma, Washington, in Pierce County. It is in North End. It is on North I Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1202 N I Street, Tacoma WA 98403, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker and memorial is in the Puget Sound Region and in Greater Seattle. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Cascade Range, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Birthplace of Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Tacoma's First Hospital Site (approx. Ό mile away); First School House in Tacoma (approx. 0.4 miles away); Margaret Meeker Davis (approx. half a mile away); Jennie Jones (approx. half a mile away); Janet Elder Steele (approx. half a mile away); The Job Carr Family (approx. half a mile away); Coming of the Railroad to Tacoma (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tacoma.
More about this marker. The historical marker and sculpture is located in the rear of Lowell Elementary School, on North I Street near the northwest corner of the North 12th Street intersection.
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 18, 2023
2. Lowell Elementary School
The memorial is located near Lowell Elementary School, which was damaged by an earthquake in 1949.
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 18, 2023
3. We Honor a Hero Sculpture
The sculpture was created by Larry Anderson, who designed several other historical themed sculptures around Tacoma. The loose bricks are deliberate, meant to evoke the damage of the earthquake.
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 18, 2023
4. Marvin Alan Klegman Memorial
The memorial to Marvin Klegman is also known as the 'We Honor a Hero' Memorial.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 150 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 6, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
