Stanwood Lions raise big 12 on smokestack to honor Seahawks

STANWOOD — How many places can the 12th Man represent?

Count Stanwood among the faithful. The Stanwood Lions Club has raised the “12” 150 feet up the Hamilton Lumber smokestack just off 268th St. NW.

Made of welded rebar and strung with four 12-foot strands of rope lights, the 12th Man now occupies a spot normally reserved for pumpkins at Halloween, turkeys at Thanksgiving and what might be the state’s tallest Christmas tree ­— if “tree” is the right word for a brick smokestack strung with lights.

For 15 years, the Stanwood Lions have been putting decorations on the smokestack, which rises above Irvine Slough near downtown and across the street from the main J.E. Hamilton &Sons store.

With the prospect of a first-ever Seahawks Super Bowl victory, it seemed an appropriate way to show support.

“This is our way of giving back to the community,” said Candie Tallquist, president of the Stanwood Lions.

The “12” is 16 feet tall and 25 feet wide and was assembled by Tom and Will Webb. It took a crew of 12 to hoist it into place Tuesday.

After the Super Bowl, the “12” will join the turkey, tree, pumpkin and other decorations in storage, until Seahawks season starts again in the fall.

“We’ll always be the 12th Man, right?” Tallquist said.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165 or cwinters@herald.net.