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For five years, a stained glass window created by Chehalis ARTrails regular Marcy Anholt has traveled to Washington State Patrol offices across the state.
The window depicts a state trooper kneeling at a grave while being comforted by an angel. It aims to recognize those who have died during their service with the state patrol.
On June 8, the 100th anniversary of the formation of the agency, Anholt’s piece became a permanent installation at the “Fallen Heroes Wall” memorial in the Helen Sommers building in Olympia.
Anholt was approached by Capt. Niel Weaver, the government media relations officer for the state patrol and one of her neighbors. Weaver agreed to cover the costs of materials, while Anholt would foot the labor bill.
Because of her husband’s status as a veteran, Anholt had been to many memorials over the years, so she felt particularly moved by the intent for the piece.
After the window’s completion, it was taken to banquets across the state where funding was raised for the “Fallen Officers Memorial Fund,” which pays for college educations for children of troopers who have died.
Now, the window joins photos of the 31 officers who have died while on duty since the formation of the state patrol 100 years ago. For Anholt, being a part of that solemn ceremony was an honor.
“The governor spoke, it was a beautiful ceremony … It was just so touching. We’re a military family, so we’ve gone to a lot of fallen officers and fallen hero memorials, and it was just so special.”
Anholt has worked with stained glass for 45 years. After moving all around for her husband’s career, Anholt said he put her in charge of deciding where they would retire. She chose Chehalis.
Her home is unmistakably hers, with stained glass and mosaic art reaching from her garage to the mailbox.
Much of her work features wildlife and birds. Her daughter is an ornithologist and Anholt said her whole family loves watching birds. Cranes and herons stand tall on many of her pieces, and even some of her more traditional windows feature flowers, leaves or other natural elements.
Anholt has shown her work in ARTrails for nine years and has been commissioned by businesses, families and 11 churches across the country.
She noted she sometimes uses reclaimed stained glass from old churches to create windows for new ones, a resurrection that she feels is especially meaningful.
In August, she donated one of her windows to the Borst Park Pioneer Church made almost entirely from reclaimed glass.
“It’s pretty neat, you know, that people have been praying in front of that glass for a hundred years and now it’s going to go on for another hundred years,” she said. “It’s very beautiful.”
The unveiling ceremony for the Fallen Heroes Wall can still be found onnline at youtube.com/watch?v=SndzgCKmvt8. For more information on Anholt, visit stainedglassbymarcy.com.
