Washington National Guard unit home from Iraq

The 150 members of the Washington Army National Guard's 792nd Chemical Company returned home Saturday from a yearlong deployment to Iraq.

The company's detachments hailed from Bremerton and Spokane, and its members assisted in providing security and support operations. The troops arrived Saturday morning at McChord Air Force Base and were taken to a reunion with family members at Fort Lewis.

Tacoma

Headstone honors officer killed in 1925

A Tacoma police officer killed in the line of duty more than 80 years ago has been recognized for his service with a long-awaited headstone placed at his grave.

William Wickman was 30 when he died in a motorcycle accident in 1925 while chasing a speeding motorist. His wife was caring for the couple's two daughters, ages 4 and 9, when Wickman died, and didn't have money for a grave marker.

At a memorial service Friday, three dozen Tacoma police officers, city officials and members of Wickman's family huddled together as an engraved black granite stone was placed at his grave at Oakwood Hill Cemetery.

"Now we have a beautiful stone memorial," said Kay Kenison, one of Wickman's two granddaughters.

Wickman's death was all but forgotten until police historian Erik Timothy came across an old plaque listing him as having died in the line of duty. It took Timothy years to track down the remaining family and the details of the accident.

The stone and its engraving were donated by Tacoma Monument.

The stone incorporates the star-shaped police badge Wickman wore when he was an officer and today's oval-shaped badge.

"While Motorcycle Officer Wickman was pursuing a speeding vehicle, a car turned into his path and caused a fatal collision," the stone reads. "He is gone but not forgotten. Dedicated by his fellow officers of the Tacoma Police Department. 2006."

Seattle

Mount St. Helens tree to grace plaza

The holidays came to Westlake Plaza in downtown Seattle Saturday in the form of a 55-foot Christmas tree harvested from Mount St. Helens.

The tree was one of 18 million seedlings planted by Weyerhaeuser in the aftermath of the volcano's eruption in 1980. Miles of forests were flattened by the blast, including 17,000 acres of trees owned by the logging giant.

Weyerhaeuser traded that land for about 4,800 acres of timberland. The traded land became part of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Seattle Times staff

and The Associated Press