JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Local sailors remembered a shipmate on the one year observance of her murder, Tuesday.
Balloons and bows decorated a tribute set up for Andrea Washington at Naval Station Mayport.
Base Command Master Chief Teri Zehnacker told Action News Jax, “It makes 1 year ago seem like yesterday, but, yet, still so long ago.”
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Action News Jax was at Washington's northside home on September 17, 2018 when police found her dead.
Zehnacker, a mentor and close friend, said the mother of three had just been promoted.
She described, “Her life was taken the day she was supposed to show up in her brand new uniform.”
Tuesday Zehnacker wanted to hold a small gathering of Washington’s shipmates.
It quickly turned into dozens of sailors releasing lanterns in her honor.
“It became one big family to share that moment together, and to know that Andrea and her family is still with us,” said Zehnacker.
Local sailors are remembering Chief Petty Officer Andrea Washington on the 1 year observance of her murder. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/RZ6ESrNOyj
— Beth Rousseau (@BethANJax) September 17, 2019
The purple coloring of the lanterns and memorial decorations represent domestic violence awareness.
In December 2018 Washington’s boyfriend, Danny Beard, was charged with her murder.
Zehnacker feels for family and sailors robbed of time with Washington.
The memorial is something she’d like to do annually.
She said, “We’re all in this together until the end.”
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