Edmonds becomes country's first 'Community of Service'

EDMONDS — The city of Edmonds is officially the nation’s first “Community of Service” under an initiative led by former U.S. Rep. Brian Baird.

Edmonds community members — including elected officials, nonprofit leaders and business owners — gathered in downtown Edmonds on Saturday to celebrate the launch of “Edmonds Serves.”

Baird, now an Edmonds resident, is the founder of the National Museum and Center for Service, an organization working to establish a national service museum in Washington, DC. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, the organization is establishing several “communities of service” throughout the country.

“If you travel around the country, we do a great job of honoring military service, which is really important, but it shouldn’t be just the military who answer the call to service, nor should their service be the only service we honor,” Baird said.

https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/06/07/edmonds-becomes-countrys-first-community-of-service/