Malaga man offers free cemetery transport to veterans

March 03--WENATCHEE -- In 2013, Ken Williamson attended a service in Wenatchee for a Korean War veteran whose remains were identified 63 years after he died in the war.

"I thought at the time, 'The only thing missing is a military vehicle to carry the remains to the cemetery in,' " Williamson said.

Within a few months, he'd bought such a vehicle and, within another year, he had it rewired and buffed up for service. In September, he used the M37 Jeep-like vehicle with attached military-style trailer to carry the remains of a local veteran.

Williamson said the experience left him feeling "fantastic. It was really great."

He teared up at the memory. "It just felt good, like what I'd hoped for," he said. "I was doing something for a veteran."

Williamson, 74, of Malaga, was in the Army, serving in Alaska from 1965 to 1967. Later he went into teaching. He taught at Eastmont Junior High School from 1980 to 1990. After several years teaching in Vancouver he retired and now lives in Malaga.

He said people who want him to drive loved ones' remains to a cemetery should contact one of the three Wenatchee-area mortuaries. Such a ride in his rig is a free service, and it's only available to veterans.

Williamson gets emotional when he talks about why he thinks it's important for him to do this.

"If it wasn't for the military, we wouldn't be free," he said. "I'm just one of those guys who think the military keeps us safe and keeps us free."

Reach Dee Riggs at 509-664-7147 or deeriggs@wenatcheeworld.com.

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