Monday is a special day. It’s Memorial Day, when we pause to honor those who died in the nation’s service.
It’s often easy to overlook the meaning of the day. After all, its founding is sketchy, though it probably dates back to our Civil War.
Nonetheless, for decades now, the country has stopped what’s its doing to remember — and thank — those who have died defending our liberties.
According to usmemorialday.org, the day’s first official observance was on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1873, New York became the first state to officially recognize the day.
Memorial Day was included in the National Holiday Act of 1971 when Congress made the day into a three-day weekend. Since then, it too often has become just another three-day weekend for people to relax and for stores to promote special sales.
Memorial Day deserves so much more.
It reminds us of the terrible price the members of our armed forces have paid to keep us free. And, of course, also their families who mourn their deaths.
Those with ties to the military know the meaning of Memorial Day.
And certainly we can afford to take some time thanking those who gave so much for their country.
Good news for taxpayers
Good news for state Auditor Brian Sonntag — and the rest of us, too.
Gov. Chris Gregoire did the right thing Tuesday and restored $29 million to Sonntag’s budget to pay for performance audits.
These are the audits that scrutinize state agencies to see if they are spending money in the most efficient way possible. Studies have shown that such audits save the state $10 for every $1 spend.
Under an agreement with the governor, Sonntag will get $14 million back for performance audits and will set aside $15 million to be transfered to the next legislative session to help fill the budget gap.
Let’s hope the state is on the road to recovery by then and Sonntag gets to keep the money – and keep the performance audits going.
Justice for all
King County Assessor Russell Scott Noble pled guilty Wednesday to one count of felony vehicular assault. Sentencing is set for 1 p.m. on June 19 but the penalty already is substantial.
State law says elected officials convicted of felony crimes must forfeit their office and will not be eligible for public office in the future. Noble has said he will resign shortly before the June 19 sentencing.
On that date Superior Court Judge Michael Fox will determine the jail time Noble might face. The range is from three months to nine months, with the state seeking the maximum.
In a letter delivered to King County Council Chair Dow Constantine, Noble apologized “to the victims, the citizens of King County, the County Council, and staff of the Department of Assessments.”
Noble, 58, has been the county assessor for 16 years.
He’s a smart man. He just made a dumb mistake.
