Monroe's Lake Tye Park was a sea of 12s on "Blue Friday,GÇ¥ as 1,500 Seahawks fans gathered together to cheer on their favorite team.
The official Seahawks pep rally held Friday, Jan. 15, included performances by the Sea Gals and Blue Thunder, who shared the stage with host Ken Carson and former Seattle Seahawks players Sydney Rice and Paul Johns. Monroe Mayor Geoffrey Thomas raised the 12th flag courtesy of firefighters from Monroe's Fire District No. 3, who brought a ladder truck to accommodate the bright blue tribute to Seattle's beloved football team.
Monroe's rally was the first of several events held in the Greater Seattle Area to give fans the opportunity to send the Seahawks off in style, as they headed to North Carolina for the NFC divisional playoffs. Additional rallies were held in Kirkland and Bellevue.
The pep rally was arranged in just four short days. On Monday, Jan. 11, Monroe City Administrator Gene Brazel received word from the Seahawks organization they were interested in holding a rally in Monroe. Brazel responded immediately, connecting them with Mike Farrell and Denise Jacobsen from the Monroe Parks Department, who worked out the logistics.
Lake Tye was selected as the location, and the plans were set. The Monroe High School drum line, cheerleaders and Jerry "Big DogGÇ¥ Dixon welcomed the crowd as they waited for the Seahawks charter bus, which rolled in shortly before 10 a.m. escorted by the Monroe Police Department.
Washington Sen. Kirk Pearson was in attendance, along with Monroe city councilmembers Kirk Scarboro, Patsy Cudaback and Jeff Rasmussen.
Thomas expressed gratitude in his weekly newsletter, describing the event as both amazing and unique.
"I bumped into people from Monroe but also people from communities including Arlington, Everett, Duvall and even Montana,GÇ¥ Thomas wrote. "To me, the "12' is all about our Pacific Northwest community; it is about bringing people together rather than dividing them. The pep rally today certainly brought people together. Thank you to our staff, council, Big Dog, Fire District #3, and everyone else who made this such an awesome event in fewer than five working days.GÇ¥
The Seahawks fell to the Carolina Panthers 31-24, having bounced back from a 31-0 score at halftime, on Sunday, Jan. 17.
Photos by Chris Hendrickson MonroeGÇÖs Lake Tye Park was the place to be last Friday, as about 1,500 people gathered to send off the Seahawks in style. Mayor Geoffrey Thomas introduced elected officials Monroe city councilmembers Kirk Scarboro and Jeff Rasmussen, Sen. Kirk Pearson, Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Patsy Cudaback and Snohomish County Councilmember Ken Klein.
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