Joint Base Lewis-McChord near North Fort Lewis in Pierce County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Boulevard of Remembrance

Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, September 10, 2017

1. Boulevard of Remembrance Marker

Inscription.

Boulevard of Remembrance. . , History , The Tacoma Garden Club joined an international effort in 1927 to commemorate World War I veterans, civilians, and other organizations that supported the war effort. Our "Boulevard of Remembrance" joined Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada to honor their sacrifices., In order to create a beautiful thoroughfare as a tribute, the Tacoma Garden Club chose Red Oak (Quercus rubra) and Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea), and a variety of native plants for the memorial plantings. The trees lined both sides of Pacific Highway (Hwy 99) from Tacoma to south of Fort Lewis., Dedication and Progress , Hundreds of people attended the "Boulevard of Remembrance dedication March 16, 1929. Brigadier General Michael J. Lenihan turned the first shovel of earth and opened the event by saying, "We give this monument to the soldiers, sailors, and others who have fought our wars." The first tree planted was in memory of Major General Henry A. Greene. Ninety of the trees were planted with markers honoring specific veterans and groups.

As Pierce County's population grew, it was necessary to widen Pacific Highway. The construction of Interstate 5 during the 1950s and 1960s required the removal of the memorial trees east of the Highway. By October 2015 only 66 of the original 500 trees remained., Revival , Local historian Charlotte "Polly" Medlock began a campaign in 1988 to bring attention to the plight of the Boulevard. In 2016, Washington State Representatives Dick Muri and Christine Kilduff partnered with the community to name a section of Interstate 5 the "Boulevard of Remembrance." It was dedicated on Veterans Day that same year., Thanks to the Tacoma Garden Club for its 1927 memorial honoring world war one Veterans, whose efforts and sacrifices secured a victorious conclusion to the "Great War". And thank you to today's citizens for remembering and honoring those past protectors of liberty with this Boulevard of Remembrance., [Captions:] , Photos from The Tacoma Daily Ledger, March 17, 1929. Copyright, The News Tribune., City Officials, General Lenihan, and Tacoma Garden Club members gather around as the first shovelful of earth is turned for planting the memorial trees.

History
The Tacoma Garden Club joined an international effort in 1927 to commemorate World War I veterans, civilians, and other organizations that supported the war effort. Our "Boulevard of Remembrance" joined Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada to honor their sacrifices.

In order to create a beautiful thoroughfare as a tribute, the Tacoma Garden Club chose Red Oak (Quercus rubra) and Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea), and a variety of native plants for the memorial plantings. The trees lined both sides of Pacific Highway (Hwy 99) from Tacoma to south of Fort Lewis.

Dedication and Progress
Hundreds of people attended the "Boulevard of Remembrance dedication March 16, 1929. Brigadier General Michael J. Lenihan turned the first shovel of earth and opened the event by saying, "We give this monument to the soldiers, sailors, and others who have fought our wars." The first tree planted was in memory of Major General Henry A. Greene. Ninety of the trees were planted with markers honoring specific veterans and groups.

As Pierce County's population grew, it was necessary to widen Pacific

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Highway. The construction of Interstate 5 during the 1950s and 1960s required the removal of the memorial trees east of the Highway. By October 2015 only 66 of the original 500 trees remained.

Revival
Local historian Charlotte "Polly" Medlock began a campaign in 1988 to bring attention to the plight of the Boulevard. In 2016, Washington State Representatives Dick Muri and Christine Kilduff partnered with the community to name a section of Interstate 5 the "Boulevard of Remembrance." It was dedicated on Veterans Day that same year.

Thanks to the Tacoma Garden Club for its 1927 memorial honoring WWI Veterans, whose efforts and sacrifices secured a victorious conclusion to the "Great War". And thank you to today's citizens for remembering and honoring those past protectors of liberty with this Boulevard of Remembrance.

[Captions:]
Photos from The Tacoma Daily Ledger, March 17, 1929. Copyright, The News Tribune.

City Officials, General Lenihan, and Tacoma Garden Club members gather around as the first shovelful of earth is turned for planting the memorial trees.

Erected 2016.

Topics. This historical marker is listed

Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, September 10, 2017

2. Boulevard of Remembrance Marker

in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • War, World I. A significant historical year for this entry is 1929.

Location. 47° 5.808′ N, 122° 36.954′ W. Marker is near North Fort Lewis, Washington, in Pierce County. It is in Joint Base Lewis-McChord. It can be reached from Main Street. This marker is on the military base of Joint Base Lewis McChord. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4320 Main St, Tacoma WA 98433, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker 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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chloe Aurelia Clark (Wilson) (approx. 1.1 miles away); Global War on Terrorism Memorial (approx. 1.3 miles away); Ross Memorial (approx. 1.3 miles away); Fourth of July

Paid Advertisement

(approx. 1½ miles away); Going Native with Kinnikinnick (approx. 1½ miles away); She-Nah-Nam (approx. 5.2 miles away); Two-Story Log House (approx. 5.4 miles away); F-16 Fighting Falcon (approx. 5½ miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Site of the Medicine Creek Treaty (was approx. 4.8 miles away but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. This marker is west of I-5 and a short walk southwest of the Lewis Army Museum. The map pictured on the marker indicates its approximate location with a red star and the message, "You are here."

Also see . . . Boulevard of Remembrance. Remembering WWI sacrifices.

Over time it will be forgotten, plaques will disappear, and most of the trees will be removed for highway expansion. In the 1980s the Washington State Department of Transportation will propose removing the few remaining trees, which have become safety hazards. Local preservationists will mount a successful campaign to save about 30 trees.

(Submitted on March 17, 2026, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 12, 2026, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. This page has been viewed 19 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on January 12, 2026, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. 2. submitted on March 17, 2026, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.