Anderson was a respected veteran, legislator and civil rights champion. The update is a chance to reimagine how Anderson, the state’s first openly gay legislator, is remembered on the campus, including his military background, commitment to good government and true friendship to many.

DES staff replaced the Sen. Cal Anderson memorial tree Aug. 25. The previous tree was dying and was removed for safety.

Next steps

In coming weeks, DES will seek input from stakeholders on updating the plaque including elected officials with whom Senator Anderson served, the Legislature’s LGBTQ caucus and the Washington State LGBTQ Commission. DES welcomes input on who else should be included in this outreach.

Standards for plaques are set forth in WAC 200-230-090. These include material, letter style, finish and size.

DES also is working with an arborist to identify areas where the Kwanzan flowering cherry tree could be transplanted and thrive. The memorial may need to be moved in the future due to a planned project to replace some of the oldest utilities on the campus beneath Cherry Lane and adjacent sidewalks. DES will seek input based on the arborist’s findings if the tree needs to be moved.

Under state law (WAC 200-230), the process for updating and/or relocating memorials is done through the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee (CCDAC), State Capitol Committee (SCC).

DES also will provide an informational update at the next SCC meeting, scheduled for Oct. 16. There is opportunity for public comment at the SCC meeting.

Learn more

Learn about the memorial honoring Anderson’s legacy, including the current inscription on the memorial plaque.

Photo credit: Joe Mable CC BY-SA 4.0