Just days prior to the big Fourth of July festivities, the Downtown Action Committee of Bothell decided to host the first-ever window display competition. The grand prize and home-made trophy went to Bothell Main Street Antiques for their window display tribute and call to action supporting veterans.
According to Tom Dorsey of Bothell Main Street Antiques, the goal was to bring awareness to the plight that the Veterans Heritage Museum is currently enduring and, of course, to support veterans and current military.
“We’re trying to save the museum and find a place, a home, for it,” Dorsey said.
The Veterans Heritage Museum is in need of help and assistance in continuing to honor those who have served as well as displaying uniforms and gear from various time periods in American military history.
While Dorsey was not in the military, his son is currently serving. Dorsey stated that he wants to help preserve the museum and its artifacts to educate future generations about what it means to be a veteran.
“Todd [Crooks, who is the founder and curator of the Veterans Heritage Museum] is a personal friend, but he’s also a 20-year serviceman in the Navy, and I have a son that has 27 years in the Oregon National Guard and is still active at Fort Lewis,” Dorsey said. “And I think it’s important to honor our veterans.”
While currently crammed into corners of the Everett Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2100, most of the museum is in storage. It is the only veterans museum in King or Snohomish counties. The Veteran’s Heritage Museum is looking for a new home anywhere in the two counties that has a 1,000 square foot rent-free space.
“When Bothell had the contest, [The Bothell Main Street Antiques] thought ‘let’s see if Todd can bring down a few museum things,’ and that turned into three windows,” Crooks said.
American men and women have been fighting for the United States since the colonists rose up against British rulers in 1775, with the Declaration of Independence signed July 4, 1776. Since then, any person in the military – whether they survived their service or not – are American military veterans.
“I tried to grab as many red, white and blue things, obviously you have to have the Revolutionary War guy in there,” Crooks said. “We wanted to put some real old things in there and even some stuff from Iraq and Afghanistan.”
According to Crooks, the window display also showcased some period pieces from the Korean War, where Colonel Stephen L. Bettinger, former Bothell resident, shot down a Korean fighter plane, becoming an ‘Ace’ fighter pilot only moments before having to eject from his plane over enemy territory. Bettinger is survived by his wife, Lynn, who still lives in and owns the building where Bothell Main Street Antiques is located.
“I was blown away by the detail of the items they had in their window, because it’s supporting the military and the history of the military, it’s tremendous,” said Paul Cavanaugh, owner of Woodlawn Optical on Main Street. “I didn’t realize they were going to do anything like that at all; I knew they would win. I think it’d be wonderful if the community could get behind their museum.”
The Veterans Heritage Museum is looking for donations to reach the $100,000 goal so that they can pay for the office needs, utilities, and other needs, but also hire a full-time paid manager to ensure the museum is always in proper working order. Not only do they need a space and funds, but they need interested volunteers, too.
As for the window display contest, it seems that the event will come back around next year.
“I know we’re going to do this again next year, the merchants all had a lot of fun,” Cavanaugh said.
Alexa’s Cafe came in second place and Steve’s Cafe came in third.
For more information about the Veterans Heritage Museum, please visit www.SeattleVeteransMuseum.org.
