‘Monumental Talks’: What is the cost of freedom?

Joe Marine

Ricardo Velasco

Donaya Zirak

• 
• 
• 

Four veterans, an immigrant, and a refugee will take center stage to talk about some of the most important issues facing America as part of “Monumental Talks” on Sept. 11 at Everett Civic Auditorium.

Dr. Sanford Wright, a retired neurosurgeon, developed “Monumental Talks” as a way to stimulate what he considered to be essential dialogues that Americans should have with each other to constantly confirm the priceless value of the American dream and American freedom and for which people must be willing to pay the cost of freedom.

The featured speakers are veterans Steve McLaughlin, Antonio Williams, Jeff Swan, and Ray Lockman; Mazatlan restaurant owner Ricardo Velasco (an immigrant from Mexico): and Equal Human Rights Organization founder and religious refugee Donaya Ziraksari (the Houston-based nonprofit addresses human rights violations locally and globally.) The program starts at 7 p.m. Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine is the master of ceremonies.

The event serves as a remembrance of 9/11 and a reminder of the 2,977 casualties suffered in one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in history.

“That attack threatened one of America’s great gifts: the gift of American independence and the gift of American freedom,” Wright said.

One of the responses to 9/11 was an event, “The Christmas Spectacular,” in support of the Volunteers of America food bank. The first event took place in December 2001, three months after the 9/11 attack.

For 19 years, the show focused on one word – “freedom.”

“The Christmas Spectacular sought to draw attention to the word freedom over the Christmas holidays, reminding Americans that without freedom these holidays may not exist,” Wright said.

In the 2006 show during the Iraq war, pianist Dehner Franks composed and performed “What Is the Cost of Freedom.”

“The lyrics and the melody of this song bring about a powerful, motivational impact to the message of freedom,” Wright said.

It wasn’t until 2024 when listening to the song that Wright connected Franks’ theme of freedom and the legacy of Roland Hartley, a 14-year-old Canadian immigrant, his family, and the Historic Hartley Mansion, which Wright owns and works in.

A 1917 photo in the mansion showed Roland Hartley, at age 53 and a first-generation immigrant, had signed up with the Washington National Guard to fight in World War I.

“The connection between ‘What Is the Cost of Freedom’ and the legacy of the Hartley family and Historic Hartley Mansion reminded us of a special core value, which then formed the basis for Monumental Talks. That core value is the cost of freedom,” Wright said. “This core value of defending American freedom was recognized by Roland Hartley and his family in World War I and this core value of defending American freedom was also recognized by American families following the 9/11 terrorist attack on America.”

The “Monumental Talks” by Williams will discuss three elements: the American dream, American freedom, and the willingness to pay the cost of American freedom.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin also will be sharing her thoughts on 9/11. Rock 22 founders Jeff Swan and Ray Lockman will talk about their new organization to help veterans with PTSD.

Tickets to “Monumental Talks” are $25 and can be purchased at monumentaltalks.org.

Mukilteo Beacon readers who show a copy of this story at the box office will be admitted for free. Donations will be accepted. The Everett Civic Auditorium is at 2415 Colby Ave., Everett