ARLINGTON — Normally, it’s not a good thing when a fire truck shows up at your school, but for Wes Cowen, it was a dream come true.
The Trafton Elementary first-grader won a raffle while participating in this year’s Fourth of July Kiddies’ Parade, and on Sept. 19, he received his raffle prize, when he rode in an Arlington Fire Department engine to school.
Mom Jennie Cowen reported that it was one school morning when waking up on time was not a problem for Wes.
“He practically jumped out of bed and got ready faster than I’d ever seen,” Jennie said. “He had his backpack, shoes and everything else on an hour early, and he didn’t even want to eat breakfast.”
It was Wes’ first ride in a fire truck, and while he has plenty of years left to make up his mind, the experience has made him consider an adult career as a firefighter.
“I was excited,” Wes said. “They have 22 hoses on that fire truck. I did not know that. I liked talking on the headphones, and the sirens.”
Wes’ teacher, Jamie Wilson, told the other students they could go outside to see the fire truck, but noted that “they couldn’t believe it at first. It was a pretty exciting day at Trafton.”
Jennie praised Arlington firefighter Cary Stuart for making the experience so personal and enjoyable for her son.
“He has elementary school kids of his own, so he wanted to do it,” Jennie said. “He was just a sweet, kind, friendly guy, who went out of his way to make it fun and special.”
Jennie, a former Tacoma native, went on to describe Trafton and Arlington both as communities in which children like her son “aren’t just faces in the crowd. We experience so much more quality of life here than in the big city. Nothing like this would have happened in Tacoma, but Wes will remember it for the rest of his life.”
The following week also boasts an exciting Friday for Trafton, as the 54th annual Trafton Fair takes place Sept. 26 from noon to 3 p.m.
The fair will continue last year’s newly started traditions of a dessert room and a baked goods contest, and its new features for this year will include the Sno-Isle Libraries, Snohomish County Parks and Recreation, and voter registration.
