Seattle Among Top Five Most Patriotic Cities

Seattle, Washington has a lot to be proud of, and when it comes to their country, Seattle citizens rank among the proudest.

A recent survey of American cities conducted by Men’s Health ranked Seattle fourth in the nation, placed behind #1, Portland, Kansas City and Salt Lake City. Considering Seattle’s character and record of veterans’ support, it’s easy to see why.

 The survey employed a variety of criteria to determine which city’s heart beat most red, white and blue—Seattle has earned its place among the top 5. According to Men’s Health, the survey “calculated the percentage of registered voters who turned out for state and federal elections from 2004 to 2008 (Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections); money spent on military veterans per capita (Department of Veterans Affairs); percentage of residents who volunteer, participate in civic activities, and/or work with neighbors (Volunteering in America); and finally, sales of fireworks and U.S. flags (SimplyMap and americanflags.com respectively).

Seattle’s pedestal among the top slots is built on a strong civic and military backbone. The Emerald City might not be buying the most U.S. flags and fireworks, but it certainly dedicates a great deal of spending to supporting the veteran population. With three major military facilities located in and around the Seattle metro area, Seattle boasts plenty of patriots serving under the stars and stripes. In order to make all those service personnel at home, Seattle has devoted funds to everything from care facilities to community centers. Many of the civic activities that Men’s Health rated in Seattle’s favor include veteran gatherings, volunteers and functions.

 Those veterans also generate plenty of Seattle area funding as well. Several stores in the famous Pike’s Place Market have veteran special and host events. Small business industries and auto dealerships such as Advantage Nissan in Bremerton offer deep discounts to service personnel—active, reserve and retired—to show gratitude by giving some back to those who have dedicated their lives to the community and the country’s defense. There’s even a local group of motorcycle enthusiasts, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, which is a steady presence at pro-veteran events, like the cleanup of Seattle Military Cemetery in April.

 Volunteerism in Seattle extends beyond the military, with Seattle being in the lead of eco-friendly economic trends and environmental issues. Seattle is the home to hundreds of pro-environmental organizations. Many of them take inspiration from the amazingly diverse eco-systems Seattle’s beautiful environs have to offer—its rainforests, wetlands, mountains, glaciers and island chains. They too give back to their home and country by dedicating themselves to the sustainability and beautification of those natural majesties.

 So when it comes to devoting themselves to loving their country, Seattle truly belongs among the top cities of the nation. Giving generously to defend, to sustain and to improve their country is what Seattle does with a passion.