Honoring soldiers’ sacrifices

Ninety-four-year-old Lila Trammell, representing the Gold Star Mothers and wearing the Robertson family tartan, places a bouquet of flowers during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Washougal Memorial Cemetery. Trammell’s mother, Inez Butler, was a member of the Gold Star Mothers, which is an organization of mothers who have lost a son or daughter serving in the military. Escorting Trammell on Monday were her brother, Harold Robertson, 90, and her son, Lyle Sanders, 73. Sanders said many members of his family have served in the military. “That has been a tradition of our family,” he said. “It’s our country; we defend it.” The event also included speeches by Dave Shoemaker and John Clapp. Shoemaker’s comments, which honor two Washougal men killed during the Vietnam War, click here.