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Tacoma tattoo shop details history of tattoos in the military

Courtesy photo

Union Avenue Tattoo Company

Courtesy photos

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    Union Avenue Tattoo Company

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    Wall of tattoos

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    Military tattoo

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There are lots of places to get your ink done, especially in an area heavily populated with military. However, not all of those places can combine great works of art with a firm military background and understanding of what it means to don the uniform.

Union Avenue Tattoo Company, located just outside of the Madigan gate near Joint Base Lewis-McChord Main, can. 

Steve Quesenberry, better known as Q, started getting tattoos at age 14, and has owned Union Avenue for about a year. In that time, he has truly made it a military friendly spot. In fact, his entire staff is either former military or attached to the military - a hiring protocol he personally put into place. Additionally, he offers military discounts and specials on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Veterans Day, though business is still always busiest around the 1st and 15th of every month - payday.

"Tattoos have always had a military tie," Quesenberry said, gesturing to the shop's large "Flash Wall," which houses hundreds of iconic images - from Navy anchors to flags to the Statue of Liberty - all of which are discounted 50 percent on Fridays.

"There is a rich heritage there, and I think it can also help some of these younger Soldiers deal with issues that stem from being in combat."

During his own five years in the Army, he deployed twice and can offer a history of his combat tours through the tattoos he got at the time.

 "The first tattoo artist was supposedly a nomad that went between the Union and Confederate camps during the Civil War," he explained. "I love knowing the history behind this, especially since most of my clients are military or military spouses."

Army spouse Stephanie Desamito, 23, has worked at the shop since February and has already created quite a following of loyal customers clamoring for her artistic skill with the brush and needle. Her husband, Spc. Jonathan Desamito, is a weapons mechanic assigned to the 4/6 Air Cavalry and, for her, understanding her client's lifestyle influences her ability to give them what they want.

"I am considering this my first real tattoo, because this is what I wanted and Stephanie did a great job," said fellow Army spouse Leila Riddick, whose husband is currently deployed with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. "My husband and I are both really into ink and I did this in honor of him. I figured I could be in pain while he was gone dealing with that," she added. "It was the least I could do."

Above all other things, Quesenberry and his staff are intent on helping all of their clients, military or civilian, make the right decision about what tattoo to get.

"I really work to help them find good tattoos and learn what's good, versus what they'll eventually regret years later," he said.

For Servicemembers, that also means not getting hand, neck or face tattoos - though statutes are constantly in flux.

"I believe that as long as it is not visible while they are in uniform, they should have the freedom to get what they want, where they want it," he said.

Union Ave Tattoo is open seven days a week and is located at 15305 Union Ave., Lakewood. For questions and specific hours, call (253) 267-1277. To see more examples of the shop's work, visit its blog at http://unionavenuetattoo.wordpress.com

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