As an alumnus of Federal Way High School Class of 1969 and a recently retired educator of 39 years in the Federal Way School District, I urge all alumni residing in the Federal Way service area to vote “yes” for the upcoming capital levy to rebuild Federal Way High School.

Some alumni may be hesitant to vote for the rebuilding of this high school because of nostalgia. They may feel the demolition of the building itself may somehow diminish the memories of their high school experience.

My own experience tells me otherwise. I attended Steel Lake Elementary, which was torn down and replaced by the new Truman High School and the Ron Sandwith Teen Center. My first teaching assignment was at Sunnycrest Elementary, which has been removed and rebuilt. The Lakota Middle School building I worked in for 11 years is gone, and a new Lakota Middle School has taken its place.

The memories of the friends that I made, the staff members I worked with, and students that I taught in those buildings did not disappear with the physical buildings. I strongly suspect the same will be true when a new Federal Way High School replaces the one I attended in the 1960s.

Let’s give current and future Eagles the opportunity to remember meaningful learning experiences rather than the educationally sub-standard physical environment of a building that has long outlived its usefulness.

Doug Mosebach, Renton (Federal Way High School Class of 1969)