Secretary Wyman wears her Marshawn Lynch jersey at the Seahawks rally Wednesday at the Capitol. (Photos courtesy of Benjamin Helle) 

In true Pacific Northwest fashion, Seattle Seahawks fans and state workers gathered despite the cold and rain Wednesday afternoon for a rally to raise the 12th Man flag outside the Capitol in Olympia. Clad in blue and green, huddled together under umbrellas, supporters chanted through the drizzle for their favorite football team.

 The Seahawks mascot, Blitz, stands with Lt. Gov. Brad Owen (left), Gov. Jay Inslee, Sea Gal Stephanie Hemphill and retired Seahawks left tackle Walter Jones. 

Gov. Jay Inslee, Lt. Gov. Brad Owen and Secretary of State Kim Wyman were joined by former Seahawks offensive tackle Walter Jones to raise the 9-foot-by-14-foot-flag. Seahawks cheerleader Stephanie Hemphill was also in attendance. Hemphill will soon take over as executive director for the Lacey Chamber of Commerce.

During the ceremony, both Gov. Inslee and Lt. Gov. Owen were presented with sample Seahawks license plates bearing their names. Net proceeds from Seahawks plate sales go to InvestED, a Seattle-based nonprofit partnered with Washington schools to help students from low-income families pay for clothes, shoes, school activity cards, testing fees and other student needs.

The Seahawks will play the New Orleans Saints this Saturday in the second round of the NFC playoffs. Gov. Inslee declared this Friday “Seahawks Blue Friday” in honor of the 13-3 team that is seeded No. 1 in the NFC playoffs.

Braving the rain, Seahawks fans cheer as the 12th Man flag goes up.