ECHOES OF REVEILLE

Near my home on Whidbey Island sits Fort Casey a decommissioned relic from the turn of the last century. It is weathered and starting to crumble after more than a hundred and fifteen years of Pacific NW coastal weather. As a State Park the public can wander around its concrete passageways, massive gun emplacements, and abandoned lookout stations.   However, the structure itself is not what I find fascinating as much as the several hundred soldiers stationed there who called Fort Casey their temporary home.

I can imagine their days starting with a bolt as reveille is belted out from a bugle, and then rushing out of their barracks in those heavy woolen uniforms for breakfast. Their days would have been filled with marching, maintenance, and most importantly constant training with their fellow men so they could quickly fire the guns at a moments notice day or night.

Now as I wander around the abandoned grounds all that remains are a few faded signs and photographs of the men to remind me of the thriving and bustling place they would have called home. At one point close to a thousand soldiers were stationed here, including my grandfather.