Kent city officials raise American flag at roundabout to downtown

Kent city officials and others raised an American flag and dedicated a plaque Wednesday, July 27 at the northwest corner of the roundabout at Fourth Avenue South and Willis Street that serves as a gateway to downtown.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Bellevue, donated the flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capitol. The David Malik family donated the flag pole.

The plaque reads:

“This flag is dedicated to all peoples who work hard and sacrifice to live and preserve the American Dream. Flag raised by Mayor of Kent Dana Ralph, Congressman Adam Smith and King County Councilmember Peter von Reichbauer. Flag and flag pole donated by the David Malik family.”

Ralph and City Councilmembers Bill Boyce, Brenda Fincher, Satwinder Kaur, Zandria Michaud and Toni Troutner attended the dedication with music by the Seahawks Blue Thunder Drumline.

The flag was raised the morning of Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. Members of VFW Post 6785, Korean War veterans, Junsik Kim of the Korean Consulate General Office Consul, and Daniel Kim, the Federal Way Korean American association president, attended the event.

“On behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6785, I’d like to thank the Mayor Ralph and city of Kent for inviting VFW Post 6785 to the flagpole dedication ceremony,” said Walt Tanimoto in a Facebook comment. “It makes my heart feel good to see the community gather at this dedication and more importantly to show faith and honor to the flag of the United States of America.

“And as a Sansei, third generation American of Japanese ancestry I understand the feelings of Malik family as my grandparents immigrated to Hawaii in the early 1900s and worked at a sugar cane plantation to seek out a better life in the United States of America.”

A plaque placed at the Fourth Avenue South and Willis Street roundabout. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent