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Skagit River Journal

of History & Folklore
600 of 700 total Free Home Page Stories & Photos
(Also see our Subscribers Magazine Sample)
The most in-depth, comprehensive site about the Skagit
Covers from British Columbia to Puget Sound. Counties covered: Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Snohomish & BC. An evolving history dedicated to committing random acts of historical kindness

Noel V. Bourasaw, editor

810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, Washington, 98284
Home of the Tarheel Stomp

Mortimer Cook slept here & named the town Bug

Pen Pal Hawes pays a visit

Bill Hawes was identified on screen as being a Petty Officer First Class. See the video here.

Soldier surprises son and classmates at Central Elementary By Ruth Richardson, Sedro-Woolley Courier-Times Editor As Ensign Bill Hawes made his way through the hallways at Central Elementary School last Thursday, onlookers could tell he was on a mission. It could have been the desert camouflage uniform. Or that his wife, Julie, carried a certificate and American flag as they walked toward Roxanne McRae's kindergarten classroom.
With a television camera also capturing every move, the soldier ducked into the classroom and greeted his 5-year-old son, John Hawes. John looked up from his desk to where the senior Hawes was standing and said "hi, dad." About five seconds later, it sunk in that his dad was actually in the classroom.
As John ran toward his dad, his little face crumpled and tears of joy came pouring out. Hawes, who had been serving in Iraq since September 2006, surprised his son and classmates who had been sending special notes and care packages.

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"It really helped bring some of the morale up," Hawes said of receiving the letters. "When you're over there, having some part of home is great." Hawes would hang the notes up and said it helped him keep up with his son's progress during his first year of school. Hawes, a 1993 Sedro-Woolley High School graduate, was stationed at the Al Asad Air Force Base in the Al Andar Province in Iraq. A 13-year Navy reservist, Hawes was activated in part because of his truck-driving skills. His .parents, Bob and Patty Hawes, also are long-time Sedro-Woolley residents. They stood outside the classroom and watched the scene unfold.
"It was terrible to see your son go off to war," Bob said. "Now I know how my mother felt during Vietnam." Hawes also has a 4-year-old daughter, Samantha. The two children stayed at their grandparents house on Wednesday night so Hawes could surprise his son at school the next day. As he ate a chocolate cupcake loaded with frosting, Hawes aid he still couldn't believe he was home.
"I'm still trying to let it sink in," he said.
After the television report of the classroom surprise aired on [KING Channel 5 on Thursday], it was picked up nationally on several morning news shows Friday [and Brian Williams's NBC Evening News Report]. The Haweses and school officials started fielding calls from various networks on Friday.

Hawes said the family had calls from Jay Leno, Larry King, Good Morning America, Today and Inside Edition on Friday. The family of four were flown to Los Angeles on Saturday and [were] provided limo service, tickets to Disneyland and hotel rooms
"I'm still in shock," Hawes said. "I'm still in shock, I was definitely not expecting anything like this." The family was scheduled to arrive back to Sedro-Woolley on Tuesday.

See the video from KING-TV, still up in 2010.

Story posted on April 5, 2007, and updated with video June 8, 2010
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Our newest sponsor: Cygnus Gallery, 109 Commercial St., half-block uphill from Main Street, LaConner. Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 5 p.m., featuring new monthly shows with many artists, many local. Across the street from Maple Hall, 1886 Bank Building and Marcus Anderson's 1969 historic cabin. Their website will be up in early 2010.

Oliver-Hammer Clothes Shop at 817 Metcalf Street in downtown Sedro-Woolley, 89 years.

Peace and quiet at the Alpine RV Park, just north of Marblemount on Hwy 20, day, week or month, perfect for hunting or fishing
Park your RV or pitch a tent by the Skagit River, just a short drive from Winthrop or Sedro-Woolley

Joy's Sedro-Woolley Bakery-Cafe at 823 Metcalf Street in downtown Sedro-Woolley.

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