Veterans Life A Sound Publishing Monthly Magazine
February 2014
Serving those who served www.kitsapveteranslife.com
VETERAN PROFILE SAM RACHAL, JR. By Jessica Ginet “It’s OK to fail, but do not quit; the resilient spirit rises up from a failure.” “There’s a saying in the Baptist Church that the preacher marries the piano player. I did that, too.” The first is a quote from Chapter 5 of Sam Rachal, Jr’s book, “Failure is Not Final.” The second is what Rachal shared with me while recounting his life thus far —Rachal has lived an adventurous and varied life over the last 78 years and has learned many life lessons that he’s not afraid to say he’s learned by experience and reflection. Rachal enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954, two weeks after graduating from Booker T. Washington High School in Shreveport, La. He graduated high school wanting to attend college, and the primary reason he enlisted was to take advantage of the G.I. Bill, which
would allow him to do just that. Rachal intended to leave the Army after his enlistment period was over; however, he ended up serving in the Army for 26 years and six months. His higher education was incorporated into his lengthy military career. Rachal began taking college courses while stationed at Fort Richardson in Alaska from 1974 to 1977. He also began to delve deeper into issues of faith and service and established a junior church there during his tour. A junior church, according to Rachal, is a worship service established by a pastor to meet the needs of children between the ages of 6 and 12. He also started a drug and alcohol program while at Fort Richardson. When Rachal entered the Army in 1954, the Operations Research Office of Johns Hopkins
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University released the results of a study on the effects of segregation in integration in the Army. The study, called “Project Clear” concluded that racially segregated units were less effective than integrated units. Desegregation really began in the military in 1954 with the last of the all-black units being disbanded. Black enlistments grew with the removal of the quota system. Rachal acknowledged that racial disparities existed, however, saying, “Most of the black men who served in the Army were in signal, food service, supply or served in medical as orderlies.” Rachal began his career with the Army in communications but switched to food service in 1960. “I didn’t like KP (kitchen patrol) duty and I had a friend who was a cook,” he said. “The cook’s hours
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Sam Rachal, Jr. were pretty good. You were off every other weekend for two and a half days and I enjoyed the cooking part and I enjoyed the work.” He was enlisted for three years and was granted an honorable discharge from active duty in 1957. It was after moving from Los Angeles and then back to Shreveport and fathering a child that he decided to reenlist in the Army. His
views on the sanctity of marriage and parenthood is based in his own experiences as a young husband and father. After a lifetime of experience as well as serving as a pastor and counselor, he still remains active as a mentor to area high school students. In his second stint with the Army, Rachal worked his way up with promotions, completing food service school and eventually he became a food service supervisor. He retired as a Master Sergeant E-8 as a Food Service Supervisor in charge of 26 dining facilities at Fort Lewis. His favorite memory from his Army career was his 12 months of duty in Korea in 1971 at Osan Air Base. Rachal was the food service supervisor for the 33rd Signal Battalion. “Funny, I hadn’t really thought about that (my favorite memory of the Army). It was a nice tour
of duty,” he said. “It was a real pleasant, real rewarding time in my life. That would be my favorite duty station.” That’s not to say his life has been stress free; Rachal has joined the Army twice, been divorced and remarried, switched careers and faced unemployment, family and financial challenges head-on. “I learned the hard way,” he said. “You need to find out where and why you made mistakes and then learn from them. Fix them.” It was after his career in the Army ended, where Rachal was working as both a pastor in Bremerton while living in Tacoma and also teaching at Edmonds Community College, that his first marriage fell apart. In his book, “Failure is Not Final”, Rachal details the SEE RACHAL, PAGE 15
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On the inside
Happy February! We welcome you to this edition of Veterans Life and hope you enjoy the collection of stories we’ve gathered for you. May the kindness, love, dedication and strength showcased by the people we’ve interviewed touch your heart. Our cover story is about a vet who dedicates his time into kickstarting a non-profit, Healing Shepherd. John Fielden lovingly trains his dogs to help veterans with PTSD manage their symptoms. As studies have shown, the trust between a man and his dog is one that cannot be broken. In our veteran profile, one vet makes it clear that, “Failure is Not Final.” The slogan, if you will, is the name of the book and common theme in author Sam Rachal Jr’s. life. May your heart melt reading about the generosity of one community to give a welcomed home to a double-amputee Marine from Port Angeles. Cpl. Ammon Lang and his family toured their new home on the North Olympic Peninsula earlier this month that was built to accommodate Lang’s war injuries. He and his family were shown the love by Homes for Our Troops, a Massachusetts-based organization. Columnist Mark Harvey shares his thoughts on the military and those who have felt every emotion in-between love and hate when it comes to serving. Some may even fall into the category of indifferent feelings toward their military service. Whatever feelings veterans may feel, there’s someone to talk to upon release from the military. Reporter Chris Chancellor shares the memories of a veteran who spent many years away from home as an Army service member. The story shares how much technology has changed since those early days of service in the 1940s. The 89-year-old vet also shared the difficult fact that being a military spouse isn’t easy, but true love finds a way to prevail. Even if it takes a divorce or two. Writer Seraine Page visited with local crocheters who passionately create hats for veterans. The Kitsap Fancy Crocheters Guild adopted homeless veterans who are in transitional housing at the Washington Veterans Home each year for the special project. All the yarn is donated, and the members of the group donate their time each week in a labor of love to get the hats done each year by Christmas. A special guest writer this month shares the story of Dave and Dee Riley, a sweet couple who are both Navy vets. The pair, both 66, shared their story of their life together in the Navy and now as Kitsap’s famous “Mr. and Mrs. Claus.” Discover what many service members call the “toughest job” in the military: being a military spouse. Leslie Kelly shares the story of Navy vet Harry Risch, who stands behind his statement that his wife is the reason he made it through serving. Even when the distance seems too far, for some military spouses, it is the love in their heart that keeps them close. Have a story idea? Feel free to email suggestions to lkelly@soundpublishing.com. We’d love to hear from you.
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Harry Risch talks about his service in the Navy and his wife’s service in the Navy and as a Navy wife.
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Army couple takes on college degrees together It’s a balancing act involving work, children and retirement By Margo Myers
Armstrong decided to go for his Bachelor’s degree? “It was when I saw my 22 year old son, Jabb, graduate from college, and I realized I had to stop slacking,” he says. “It opened my eyes, and going to college was something I had always told my soldiers to do. I had to start walking the talk.” And “walking the talk” he is. Armstrong is going to school full-time, working on his Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership, while holding down the
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First and foremost, Chris and Lyn Armstrong want you to know they’re a team. Chris retired from the U.S. Army after serving 22 years, and his wife Lyn, is on active duty at Joint Base Lewis McChord, with more than 20 years served. Together, they’re not only raising four children, but they’re working towards college degrees at Brandman University. That moment when
fort at home with the couples’ other children, 18 year old Mizelle, Chris, Jr., 10, and Jaiden, 11 months. Armstrong, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, had a successful Army career, serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany and Korea, before retiring as a First Sergeant working primarily in logistics. Lyn Armstrong is a master sergeant, Automated Logistics Specialist with the 593rd Sustainment Brigade. While funneling paperwork through the proper channels is a big part of her job, she also teaches resilience training to other soldiers on base. “The Army describes
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it as PT (physical training) for the mind,” says Armstrong. “It’s a way to help soldiers be mentally fit.” That mental toughness could be used to describe
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“It was when I saw my 22 year old son, Jabb, graduate from college, and I realized I had to stop slacking,” he says. “It opened my eyes, and going to college was something I had always told my soldiers to do. I had to start walking the talk.” baby to care for at home. “The good thing about it is I can talk about it with my coach,” says Armstrong. “She helps me analyze what’s challenging me, what’s next? And we come up with a solution.” Plus, Lyn says it helps that Chris is taking the same statistics class. “He can help me understand, and it makes it easier.” Chris Armstrong knows having his four-year degree will make a difference when it comes to transitioning into the civilian workforce. He wants to work in real estate, and decided to attend Brandman after researching several other schools. After talking with Brandman’s JBLM campus director, Mary Ann Bardoni-Barbe, “it just felt like home.” Once Chris started, Lyn decided on a similar path for her future, starting on her degree before she retires. “Whatever I’m doing after I retire from the Army, I don’t want it to compromise my time with my family,” she says. “I want to do something with a purpose and do some good.” As challenging as it can be, one of the biggest advantages of Lyn and Chris being in school at the same time is the measure of support each gives the other. “We have always pushed each other to be the best we can be,” says Chris. And the Armstrong’s are confident they’ll make it through graduation. “Failure is not an option,” Chris states firmly. “We want to see each other be successful.”
10/29/13 11:09 AM
Healing Shepherd founder wants to help other veterans By KEVAN MOORE Ozzy Vom Binderhaus is one heck of a handsome fella. He’s also a little rambunctious, but that’s quite alright considering the fact that he’s only nine months old. “He’s our first dog,” said John D. Fielden, the founder of the Healing Shepherd, a non-profit that trains Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) service dogs for veterans. “He’s our prototype, our pilot program.” Ozzy is still very “green” and won’t be certified as a service dog until he’s about 2 years old and he’s already got what Fielden calls his “ladies in waiting.” That’s when the Healing Shepherd is likely to really take off. Fielden had a long and distinguished military career. He’s been on 14 deployments since 1984 with the Navy, Naval Reserve, Army and Army Reserve. In addition to Operation Desert Storm, he served three tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, including a stint alongside Naval Special Warfare Command - Group One at a counterintelligence temporary holding facility. Since leaving the military in 2011, he’s dedicated himself to helping other veterans. Especially those, like himself, who have dealt with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. “When I left the military I was diagnosed with PTSD and I’ve been dealing with that for about two-and-half years now,” he said. “Actually, I’ve been dealing with it longer, I just didn’t have a title on it.” Fielden founded of the Healing Shepherd in June of 2012. The organization, like Ozzy, is still in its infancy and Fielden is hoping to find veterans who are willing to take on training dogs to be certified. The animals are not emotional support pets; rather, the training allows them to meet Americans
with Disabilities Act requirements and rigorous Army standards. “Everyone that goes over there gets it,” Fielden said of PTSD among veterans who have served in combat. “They’re just traumatized in different ways, some more than others. Some have more coping skills when they go into and some don’t.” And, even though, he didn’t have a name for it, Fielden knew he was suffering. “I realized I had it (PTSD) after my first tour because I was drinking a lot more,” he said. “And, then, after my second tour I drank a bit, but I still maintained because I knew the third tour was coming.” He left the Navy for the Army, in part, because he was suffering from PTSD. It was while in the Navy that he got some boots-onthe-ground experience. “That kind of led into a little bit of an addiction, kind of an adrenaline rush,” he said. “I had done 24 months on the Navy’s time deployed. And at the end of that second mobilization as a Navy reservist I got a DUI on post and that was my first real red flag for PTSD. I let my contract expire because I was going through personal turmoil. But I knew the only way I could get back into the fight was to get in the Army.” A short time later, he was back in Iraq for the tail end of the surge. Eventually, Fielden left the military and found himself alone and struggling with anger, a sense of betrayal and other issues. “I found it difficult to cope when I was in the civilian environment and sought help from the VA and that was a challenge,” he said. “It took 25 months for my VA claim to go through.” Fielden had a German shepherd when he was young and has loved the breed ever since. He has more than 25 years of experience as a consultant on German shepherds
and specializes in German and European bloodlines. He has been involved in selectively breeding the Greif zum Lahntal working line and Mutz von der Pelztierfarm, Quanto and Canto Weinerau West German show lines. While working through his own issues, physical or PTSD-related, was a significant challenge, a friend of Fielden’s prompted him to get Ozzy. “I had a friend of mine a year and a half ago, who has known me since 1986, he says to me, ‘John, you’ve got PTSD. After all of your years of experience with German shepherds, why don’t you have a dog?’ I didn’t have an answer for him. My answer was an excuse. My excuse was my house is too small. My excuse was I don’t have a yard. And these are significant, but challenges is what they are. Just challenges.” When Fielden traveled to Los Angeles to get Ozzy, he made a stop by a friends house who had helped buy the dog. Then, Fielden went straight to his mother’s house. “She’s been, you know, concerned about me so we got into a little topic and I started to cry and the dog was laying down at my feet at that moment,” Fielden said. “This is an eightweek old puppy. Literally, eight weeks old and I started to get emotional and he sat up and whimpered at me. It took me out of that moment right then and there, you know? Not trained, but just the relationship, the physical proximity and being able to feel that emotion.” And while the Healing Shepherd continues to grow and evolve, Fielden knows that the animals can help men and women like him who have been on the front lines of war. He points to one recent call as an example. “I got a call from a guy who just got out of the fog of Afghanistan and getting his left leg chopped off,” Fielden said. “I said, ‘I’d love to help you right now,
Kevan Moore/staff photo
Suquamish resident John Fielden and his German shepherd, Ozzy. Fielden is the founder of the Healing Shepherd which trains PTSD service dogs for veterans but I don’t have a dog to give you.’ These guys are calling me. This guy had only been home for two weeks. It’s that moment in time when that dog, those early stages of PTSD, when that patient, that soldier, can benefit the most emotionally from having a dog around.”
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A home for Cpl. Ammon Lang and his family By Jeremy Schwartz
Peninsula Daily News
PORT ANGELES —A crowd of about 80 people welcomed former Marine Cpl. Ammon Lang and his family to their new home on the North Olympic Peninsula earlier this month. Veterans, government officials and residents watched as the keys to the free four-bedroom, twobath home east of Port Angeles “built with special accommodations for Lang’s war injuries” were given to the veteran; his wife, Kiri; and their two young sons. “I’ve had nine months to dread this day, where I have to stand in front of a bunch of people I don’t necessarily know, but I’d like to get to know you all,” said Ammon Lang, 27, getting some chuckles from the crowd. “I don’t have the words to describe how this feels, the gratitude I have for all of you.” The family was ready to move in, having driven their belongings from their previous home in Kansas. Lang stepped on an improvised explosive device June 11, 2011, while serving in Afghanistan. The blast destroyed his left leg up to just above the knee and forced the amputation of his right leg just below the knee. Massachusetts-based Homes for Our Troops organized the 2,700-square-foot home’s construction starting April 27 and gave it to the Langs free of cost and mortgage. American Legion and Patriot Guard riders flanked either side of the Langs’ asphalt driveway on Hidden Highlands Drive, off O’Brien Road, recently, as the family drove past American flags
tilted in their honor. The home, built almost entirely with volunteer labor and materials, includes 155 special features, such as countertops high enough for a wheelchair to roll under, adapted to Ammon Lang’s needs. “People came from all walks of life and all different businesses,” said Garret DelaBarre, president of the North Peninsula Building Association. The association led fundraising efforts with Homes for Our Troops and got Sequim-based Hines Construction involved as the volunteer lead contractor. “Whether (the) contribution was significant or otherwise, the community really came together,” said Jerry Hin es, Hines Construction owner. “We’re really pleased to make this home a reality.” Why did the Langs choose to relocate to the Peninsula? “Port Angeles has pretty much everything we like,” Ammon Lang said, referring to the nearby mountains and salt water. Ammon enjoys hunting and fishing, Kiri Lang added, and hopes to do more once settled in their new home. Their oldest son, Alexander, is turning 5 in March and likely will start kindergarten in the fall in Port Angeles, she said. Alexander’s brother, Killian, is 3. Both will soon have another sibling, due in a few months. Lang said he plans to start a “maker’s space” business focusing on woodworking, in which people can work on individual projects in a cooperative atmosphere. Throughout the tour of the home after the cer-
emony, neighbors of the Langs introduced themselves and offered to help in any way they could. “Neighbors have really come out of the woodwork,” Ammon Lang said. “It’s been really nice.” During the ceremony, the Homes for Our Troops flag in the front yard was lowered and the U.S. flag was raised. The project, begun with an April 27 groundbreaking ceremony, was completed mostly with volunteer labor and donated materials, said FaLeana Wech, former executive officer of the building association. Wech said Hines Construction of Sequim, owned by her father, Jerry Hines, organized the work of more than 90 subcontractors and suppliers and more than 100 individual volunteers. “We decided that this was a good cause (that) we should be involved in, and we took it on,‚“ Hines said. “We really did it for the veteran and not for ourselves. I’ve built 30-some homes, and this is the hardest one I’ve ever built.” The project required stringent inspections and approval by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, Hines explained. Other adaptations include kitchen sink and bathroom countertops high enough to allow a wheelchair to roll under them, a lower circuit-breaker box and a specially accessible shower, Hines said. For more information, contact the organiPeninsula Daily News photo zation at www.homesforourtroops.org. Lang and his son cut the ribbon on their home.
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A lifetime of service, a lifetime of love
By Leslie Kelly If you ask Navy veteran Harry Risch what’s the toughest job in the Navy, he’ll tell you being “a Navy wife.” And if you ask him what was the most important thing behind his successful 32 years in the Navy, he’ll tell you it was his wife, Dorothy. “Without her, I couldn’t have done it,” said Risch. “She was my backbone, my strength.” Risch, now 91, and a resident at Clearbrook retirement center in Silverdale, has been without “his Dottie” as he calls her, for more than two years. But not a day goes by that he doesn’t thank her for helping him with his Navy career. The two knew each other in high school in Plainfield, Illinois, but didn’t date. After graduation, Harry went off to Northern Illinois University to study mathematics and engineering. The year was 1941. “I was just a farm kid,” he said. “I had a scholarship, and I wanted to study. But I got a draft notice and I didn’t want to go into the Army. So I joined the Navy.” It was while on a trip back home before the Navy, that Harry met up with Dottie. “I’d been to college and when I came back home, the hometown girls just seemed to look a whole lot better,” he said. They dated a few times and soon he was off to become an aviation cadet, while she had enlisted as a WAVE and was off to become a yeoman. “She wanted to learn to repair planes,” Harry said of his wife. “But early on they asked if any of the women knew how to type and when she said ‘yes,’ she was sent to yeoman’s training.” First she went to bootcamp in New York, then to Oklahoma and eventually was assigned to the Great Lakes Navy school. Harry had completed his preliminary work and was being trained as a pilot. In 1944, he graduated and became a commissioned officer in the Navy. Throughout this time, the two had been
Leslie Kelly/staff photo
Harry holds a photo of his wife from her days as a WAVE. writing and calling each other when they could. On a few occasions, they were able to travel and see each other. They knew they were meant to be together forever. Once he graduated, they married on Oct. 10, 1944. Then, Dottie had to decide whether to stay in the Navy or opt out. “She had only 10 days to make a decision and she decided to follow my Navy career,” he said. Harry was assigned to Naval Station Whidbey Island as a co-pilot on submarine and ship hunting planes, he said. Then came the end of World War II. “There I was as a reserve officer, with a wife, a car, but no degree and no job,” he said. “My skipper said I should consider active duty and so I did. I was sent to Okinawa. Now I had a job, but no car and no wife.” Dottie stayed behind and went back home to be closer
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to family in Illinois. After being in Okinawa for six months, Dottie was able to join him there in 1946. “I tried to make a Quonset hut livable,” he said. “It was pretty rough living.” Their next location was Guam. “The squadron got set up and then the wives were flown down along with our belongings,” he said. Their Navy life then took them to Hawaii, and to Corpus Christie where Harry was a flight instructor for three years. He then was sent to Air Force school to learn to fly helicopters. He was in charge of a helicopter squadron in Waco, Texas. His next assignment took he and Dottie to Lakehurst, New Jersey where he served with a helicopter detachment. In New Jersey, they adopted two children, a son they named Lance and a daughter they named Kelli Ann. In 1953, he failed an eye
examination and was assigned to ship duty on carriers, cruisers and ice breakers including the USS Sipan, the Wooster and the Atka. His service included being the commanding officer on the USS Destroyer Bausell, which was home-ported in San Diego and the CO of the USS Samuel Gompers, which was built in the Bremerton shipyard. “I was planning on going to college in San Diego,” he said. “But one day the Admiral came to see me and asked me about commanding the Gompers, which was a brand new ship, and the next thing I knew, I was there.” The ship was a prime assignment, he said, because it was new with a hand-picked crew. He was in charge of 1,200 sailors. “It was a great ship and they did everything I ever expected them to do,” he said of the crew. The ship’s role was to repair other ships and subs, he said. It was sent from Bremerton to San Diego, and then on to Japan and Taiwan. The “shakedown” trip showed that the Gompers could do its job and no major problems were found. It returned to Bremerton and was then sent to San Diego in 1969 where it would be homeported. “We were on our way down to San Diego, moving the sailors and their families there,” he said. “We had wives, and cats and canaries onboard. It was in the middle of the night when my executive officer came to me and said ‘Captain, we have a problem.’” “I asked him, ‘How old is she?’” A young photographer’s mate had snuck his girlfriend onboard, Risch said. She was 18 so he put her in with the wives and when they arrived in San Diego, she was taken off the ship by a couple of Federal Marshals. “My stow-away made all the headlines,” he said. “That was something I didn’t need.” After a trip to the Philippines, he was allowed to go to college where he got a
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degree in military science. His next orders were to Singapore where he served as an attaché to an ambassador. “I escorted various Navy VIPs who came to visit,” he said. One of them, the Secretary of the Navy, asked him for a special favor. “He wanted a tiger rug,” he said. “I told him I’d try to get one for him.” It took some time and communication through a local but finally the tiger arrived via a Marine delivery. “I came into my office and there was a tiger — a stuffed tiger — about three feet tall and six foot long,” he said. “We’d had some miscommunication or wrong translation and I ended up with a tiger, not a tiger rug.” Risch sent the tiger anyway to Washington D.C. to the secretary of the Navy, and suggested that “although it wasn’t what he wanted, he should keep it.” In 1974, after more time in San Diego and San Francisco, he retired from the Navy. He and Dottie returned to Bremerton because they so liked the area. “We had good memories of Bremerton — all the people were so friendly and we had good friends who were still here,” he said. With their children grown and on their own, Harry and Dottie were back at home in Bremerton. Harry went to work for a local beer and wine distributor, the Jennings Corporation. Soon the owner, Bob Jennings, introduced them to boating. He called them and asked them to help him bring back a boat he bought in Florida. “It was a 65-foot Criscraft and he named it the Intrigue,” Risch said. “It’s still in Bremerton at the yacht club.” The trip took 75 days and resulted in Harry and Dottie buying their own boat and becoming live-aboards. They lived on their boat from 1977 to 1997 at the yacht club. “We traveled to Canada and Alaska,” he said. “We loved boat life, even if it meant really
scaling down.” When he could no longer crawl around the engine room, they gave up the boat and moved to a condominium in downtown Bremerton. After the steps got to be too much for him, Harry and Dottie moved to retirement cottages near where he lives now. He lost his Dottie June 1, 2011. “She was the best,” he said. “She loved life. She was a fun lady.” Their travels with the Navy and throughout Europe are some of his favorite memories. And Dottie’s German potato salad. “She was a great cook,” he said. “She could cook anything.” Risch’s daughter, Kelli Ann Daum, of Kirkland, recalled she and her brother Lance’s childhood as “magical.” “We traveled a lot,” she said. “Every 18 months we moved and my mom always made it an adventure. She’d make it fun. And no matter how long we were going to be some place — even if it was just two months — she’s unpack everything and make it our home.” Although her father was gone a lot on deployments, she knew he was always there for her. When he came home, he’d have treasures for her and her brother and he and their mother would “have time away together — just the two of them.” “They were always very much in love,” she said. “They both put their marriage first and they were each other’s best friend for almost 70 years.” Looking back to the beginning, Harry recalled that Dottie ignored his attempts to get her interest. “She ignored me for so long, it became a challenge,” Risch said. “She was the perfect Navy wife and a good mother to our children. “She enjoyed all the things we experienced and moving never bothered her. I couldn’t have done any of it without her.”
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VETERANS LIFE | 7
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By Mark Harvey It has been pointed out to me that there are only three places in the entire universe: here, there and the space in between. And here we are, squarely in the space in between. We know that it’s 2014, but it still feels like 2013, so right now, we’re “in between.” OK, then, let’s talk about folks who sometimes spend a lot of their lives in the space in between: veterans. I know. Talking about “veterans” is a lot like talking about “elders” or “boomers.” We talk as though everyone in that particular population is the same: They all share the same experience, so they all think alike, act alike, do the same things, feel the same ways, etc. Right? Wrong. Many of us know veterans who loved their service. Oh, sure, they have funny or amazing stories, and they may shake their heads and laugh while they tell them. Maybe they made a career out of it. But they loved it. Maybe they didn’t. Maybe those stories are horrific — things, places, people and experiences that most of us can’t imagine. It marked them, changed them. Maybe it left them in pieces, literally and figuratively. And many reside, squarely, in the space in between — not here, not there, but in between — so let’s see if this is something that might do some folks some good. The Northwest Justice Project (NJP) provides civil legal services to income-eligible folks in Washington state, and you’ve heard me go on about them before. This is a group of genuinely decent attorneys who honestly believe that folks who need help ought to be able to get it, whether they can afford it or not. They’re the folks
Contributed photo
Columnist Mark Harvey
who maintain www. washingtonlawhelp. org, which is an amazing website with a lot of free and accurate legal information. Go have a look because you’ll be . . . well, amazed. Well, NJP has launched a veterans project. The idea is to provide free legal services to veterans facing legal problems that are barriers to housing, employment or self sufficiency. What does that mean? It means issues with child support, vacating criminal convictions or records, driver’s license suspensions, housing issues, discharge upgrades, consumer law, veterans’ benefits (think “VA”) and veterans’ benefits of justiceinvolved, incarcerated and recently released veterans. And what if you’re a veteran who has an “issue” that isn’t in that little list I just rattled off ? Call them, anyway: 855-NJP-VETS (6578387). I can hear some of your questions: What about my discharge status? NJP will work with a veteran with any discharge status. True, said discharge might limit your options, but it won’t stop these folks from helping. What about female veterans? Good question, because these folks sometimes face even greater barriers to accessing services they earned and may require “special” services in order to deal with service-related sexual
abuse trauma, so just call that number and ask for an attorney who specializes in just that. What does “lowincome” mean? It means there’s a sliding scale, based on the veteran’s income, and it might not be as limiting as you think. Just call them and talk it over. But I cannot find my DD-214! They can help. Think you might want to know a little more before you actually get on the phone with somebody? Okay, visit nwjustice.org/veterans and see what you see. Deaf ? Or hearingimpaired? Okay, dial 800-833-6384. Are you through yet? No? More questions? Good! Call them and talk it over, because here’s what I would tell you if we were sitting over coffee while I looked straight into your eyes: I have worked with these people and this organization for many years. They are genuinely decent, they tell the truth, they care, and they will do exactly what they tell you they will do — exactly. We can get stuck in the “space in between” or we can call it the road from “here” to “there.” You deserve this. Mark Harvey, who writes a weekly column in the Peninsula Daily News and hosts a weekly radio show in Port Angeles, is director of Clallam/ Jefferson Information & Assistance, which operates through the Olympic Area Agency on Aging. He can be reached at 360-452-3221 or by emailing harvemb@ dshs.wa.gov. More agency information can be found on Facebook at Olympic Area Agency on Aging-Information & Assistance.
VETERANS RESOURCES American Legion Post 245 Service Office Assisting Veterans Open every Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 19068 Jensen Way, Suite 3A Downtown Poulsbo 360-779-5456 American Legion Post 245 General Meeting every third Thursday at 7 p.m. 19068 Jensen Way, Suite 3A Downtown Poulsbo www.alpost245.org 360-779-5456 WorkSource Kitsap County Veterans Representatives 1300 Sylvan Way, Floor 2 Bremerton, 98310 360-337-4767 jmckenna@esd.wa.gov Disabled Veterans Outreach Michael Robinson Disables Veterans Outreach 360-337-4727 mrobinson@esd.wa.gov
American Legion Post 149 4922 Kitsap Way Bremerton, WA 98312 360-373-8983 www.legion149wa.org VWF Post 239 Bremerton Post 190 Dora Ave Bremerton, WA 98312 360-377-6739 Meet at 7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month Silverdale American Legion Post 109 10710 Silverdale Way, Silverdale Meets on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at All Star Lanes & Casino Alpost109cmdr@gmail. com Facebook: American Legion Post 109 Silverdale American Legion Post 172 Bainbridge Island 7880 NE Bucklin Hill Road, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. 206-842-5000
Disabled American Veterans 2315 Burwell St. Bremerton, Wa. 98312 360-373-2397 Marine Corps League Olympic Peninsula Detachment 531 2315 Burwell St. Bremerton, WA 98312 360-265-7492 Meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. Mason County VFW Post No. 1694 in Shelton Memorial Hall, Second and Franklin streets Meets second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 7 p.m. Beverages and snacks are served at 6 p.m. by the Ladies Auxiliary. For more information please call 360-4264546.
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To be listed in Veterans Resources, email lkelly@ soundpublishing.com
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World War II veteran continues to feel the pain and pride of his military service By CHRIS CHANCELLOR Facebook. Skype. Twitter. The proliferation of social media provides instant access to those separated by time zones and bodies of water. It is a much different world than World War II veteran Chuck McGuire faced when he served in the Army in 1944-45. During that era, McGuire said he and other servicemen often waited weeks to receive correspondence from family. “As far as the logistics, with the mail and communication it is night and day,” said McGuire, adding that there was little consistency when it came to when and how often letters arrived. “It was nothing to get like five or six letters at a time,” he said. While there is no comparison between current technology and when he served, McGuire feels the strain distance created in his era is not much different from contemporary soldiers. “I know exactly how these guys feel like that come back from Afghanistan and their wives divorced them,” he said. “That’s exactly what happened to me. We had no support to reorient ourselves to civilian life. Those guys over there coming home are going through the same stuff I went through 70 years ago. The government hasn’t changed in that one bit.” McGuire, 89, is not sure whether modern technology would have made a difference at the time. The path toward reconciliation was arduous. She remarried and had a
daughter. McGuire said they had a mutual friend in Idaho Falls, Idaho, they traded messages through. She divorced her husband and eventually married McGuire. He estimated that they were separated for 15 years. “We had a good life out here,” said McGuire, whose wife, Doris, died in 2003 from a brain tumor. McGuire might not have ended up on the
“I know exactly how these guys feel like that come back from Afghanistan and their wives divorced them.” – Chuck McGuire, veteran Kitsap Peninsula if he had reenlisted, as he originally planned. That changed when he was stationed in Oregon, though. He said cadre of national guardsmen from Alabama came to Camp White in Oregon and “made life miserable for you,” which instead led him to Montana to work on the “Milwaukee Railroad.” Through a friendship he established there, McGuire learned that an apprenticeship program opened in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. He described the twoweek wait as tense as he feared he might be forced to continue work on the railway. “It was cold, dirty, heavy work,” said McGuire, an Idaho native. “I hated it.” McGuire wanted to work as a welder, but accepted a position as a rigger knowing he eventually could change
to his preferred career. McGuire, who settled on a 5-acre lot in South Kitsap, eventually did that. “The shipyard was very good to me,”he said. “It couldn’t have been better.” While McGuire settled into PSNS, his commitment to those he served with never wavered. In 1986, McGuire set out for a “foxhole tour” of Germany with his wife. It was about more than reminiscing, though. McGuire wanted to honor four soldiers who lost their lives at the same time in Germany. He procured government approval with the understanding that the plaque to honor four soldiers who were killed would be bronze and the writing would be in both English and German. He enlisted the help of a South Kitsap woman who was born in Germany to assist him with the translation. McGuire then was referred to a foundry in Williamsburg, Va., for the project, which lasted two months. McGuire said it was a worthwhile wait. “It was absolutely flawless,” he said. And pricey. McGuire said the plaque and six-week tour cost him $10,000. “Once I got going there was no stopping,” said McGuire, who traveled with his wife and the woman who helped with the translation and her spouse. “I got too many people involved in it.” That entailed more than his traveling party. McGuire said his biggest surprise was seeing scorers of spectators when the plaque was presented. “It seemed to capture their imagination for some reason,” he said,
Chris Chancellor/staff photo
Chuck McGuire, 89, paid $10,000 to create a plaque and travel in 1986 with his late wife to Germany to honor a quartet of soldiers killed in 1945. adding that there were parades in three separate towns. “There were officials from Belgium, Luxembourg and West Germany at the time.” McGuire said he met someone who recently visited the sight when
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they attended last summer’s Olalla Bluegrass Festival. Even with advances in technology, McGuire has not seen the plaque since it was placed in Waldfeucht, Germany. “This couple I met at the Bluegrass Festival
brought me up to speed on my plaque,” he said. “It was nice to know that everything was still okay with that. I put a lot into that.”
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Handmade ‘acrylic hugs’ warm homeless vets By Seraine Page The Kitsap Fancy Crocheters Guild has an entire storage locker full of yarn that’s been donated for their use. Floor to ceiling, the five foot by 10 foot space is filled with every color of the rainbow. “I had to pick between yarn and my husband,” jokes Beth Boshears, president and founder of the guild, which donates pieces to charity. Ultimately, her husband won and the yarn got kicked out of the house. But she still didn’t give up her love for crocheting. Nearly 10 years ago, Boshears decided to stop sending her crocheted pieces to the National Crocheters Guild to be mailed to someone she would never meet. She thought those pieces should go to someone locally. That’s when the Kitsap Fancy Crocheters Guild was born. The group thrives on creating items to comfort those in the Kitsap community. They work together on the hopes of making a difference with donated yarn. As a veteran’s wife, Boshears chose hats for vet-
erans to be one of the first projects the guild worked on together. “We live in a military community,” says Boshears. “We all look out for our veterans. It is our way to let them know the community is here. We make it a top priority and the best quality we can do.” Early on, the group “adopted” building nine veterans at Washington Veterans Home in Retsil, which houses transitional homeless vets. This year, the group has 85 hats to make, a huge increase from previous years. It will take most of the year to craft them before the donation drop at Christmas time. “When I’m working on a project for a veteran, I’m thinking about them the whole time,” says Boshears. “We pick only the best of the best for the vets.” The “best” usually means conservative colors and acrylic yarn that can be easily washed in industrial washers at the home. “It’s an acrylic hug,” says Maurine Howard, vice president. “If we had more people, we’d have so much
Seraine Page/staff photo
The Kitsap Fancy Crocheters Guild meets every week to craft projects of comfort for those in crisis. New members are welcome at any time and do not need to know how to crochet. more. It’s fun. It’s community and it’s helpful. We just want to keep people warm.” Even after putting hours upon hours into the hats, most times the members don’t see the veterans who receive the hats. Usually one designated member will drop off the hats to the home, but sometimes more will go if they have time. Because it is usually a
holiday donation, it is all the more special for veterans who might have otherwise thought they were forgotten. “Just being the conduit for the gifts and seeing the faces of the veterans is the biggest reward,” says Ray Switzer, program managertransitional housing for building 9. “The veterans who come to building 9 are always amazed that some
unknown person or group commits to the time to make and give a handmade gift to an unknown person with numerous challenges.” Because so many are needed for this year, members are starting early. They gather together every Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Cafe Noir in Silverdale, chatting and crocheting as they work. When members
aren’t making hats, they are handcrafting afghans, gloves, scarves and other items for those who need comfort. The group doesn’t sell its items. Those who join as members know every item is going to someone in need, which is the best part for some crocheters. Member Maggie Jones made one of the first hats of the year. Jones, a Scotland native, has been at the craft since she was five years old. “I love to crochet, and it’s for a good cause,” she said. “We get together and chat. It’s fun.” Last year, Jones — who others claim is the fastest crocheter in the group — made around 20 hats. She’ll easily finish a hat within four hours, but it comes easy when you enjoy it, she says. She’s got one directive for those who want to help but can’t crochet. “Give us your yarn and we’ll do it,” she says.
Want to crochet or donate yarn? Contact Beth Boshears at rezist@ msn.com or call 360-830-3360. The public is welcome to join the group at Cafe Noir in Silverdale on Wednesdays.
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is accepting applications for future Pathway to Apprentice #59915 openings at locations throughout the Puget Sound area! Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED and 1 full year of high school level algebra with a grade of “C� or better or college equivalent. Applications must be submitted by 2/28/2014. PSE is an Equal Opportunity employer. We encourage persons of diverse backgrounds to apply. Visit http://www.pse.com/ careers to apply.
Carriers The North Kitsap Herald has openings for Carrier Routes. No collecting, no selling. Friday mornings. If interested call Christy 360-779-4464 INCOME OPPORTUNITY!
The Bainbridge Island Announcements Review newspaper seeking quality motor route carriers. Thursday night delivery. No collections. Must be at least ADOPTION: H Adoring 18 years of age. Reliable Financially Secure people with reliable vehiAthletic Couple, Stay cle please call Brian. home Mom, year n for 206-842-6613 1st baby. Expenses paid 3ELLĂĽITĂĽFORĂĽFREEĂĽINĂĽTHEĂĽ&,%! 1-800-816-8424 HHH Debbie & BillHHH THEFLEA SOUNDPUBLISHING COM
Employment General
REPORTER The North Kitsap Herald, a Friday newspaper and daily online site located i n b e a u t i f u l Po u l s b o, Washington, is accepting applications for a fulltime sports and education reporter. The ideal candidate will have solid repor ting and writing skills, have up-to-date k n ow l e d g e o f t h e A P Stylebook, be able to shoot photos, be able to use InDesign and contribute to Web updates. This position includes health insurance, paid vacation, sick leave and holidays, and a 401k (with company match). The Herald, founded in 1901, was a 2012 Newspaper of the Year (Local Media Association) and a 2013 General Excellence winner (Washington Newspaper Publishers Association). If you want to work in an ambitious, dynamic newsroom, we want to hear &INDĂĽIT ĂĽ"UYĂĽIT ĂĽ3ELLĂĽIT from you. E.O.E. Email your resume, cover letter NW ADS COM and up to 5 non-reUse our handy online turnable writing and photo samples to ad 24 hours a day hr@soundpublishing.com form by clicking the Or mail to “Place an adâ€? link at EPNKH/HR Dept., Sound Publishing, www.nw-ads.com to 11323 Commando Rd W., put an ad in the Main Unit, ClassiďŹ eds online and Everett, WA 98204 in your local paper. www.soundpublishing.com sperry@peninsuladailynews.com
1.25 million readers make us a member of the largest suburban newspapers in Western Washington. Call us today to advertise. 800-388-2527
Reach readers the daily newspapers miss when you advertise in the ClassiďŹ eds. 1-800-388-2527 or www.nw-ads.com You’ll ďŹ nd everything you need in one website 24 hours a day 7 days a week: nw-ads.com.
Find what you need 24 hours a day.
4REASUREĂĽ(UNTING #HECKĂĽOUTĂĽOURĂĽ2ECYCLERĂĽ ADSĂĽBEFOREĂĽSOMEONEĂĽ ELSEĂĽlNDSĂĽYOURĂĽRICHES 2EACHĂĽTHOUSANDSĂĽOFĂĽ READERSĂĽWITHĂĽONEĂĽCALLĂĽ ĂĽ
professional services
Selling Something? Picture This! Schedule your ad for two or more weeks and we will add a photo in print and online for FREE!*
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(800) 388-2527 *Private party only. No commercial advertising.
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Professional Services Attorney, Legal Services
Notice to Contractors Washington State Law (RCW 18.27.100) requires that all advertisements for construction related services include the contractor’s current depar tment of Labor and Industries registration number in the advertisement. Failure to obtain a certificate of registration from L&I or show the registration number in all advertising will result in a fine up to $5000 against the unregistered contractor. For more infor mation, call Labor and Industries Specialty Compliance Services Division at 1-800-647-0982 or check L&Is internet site at www.lni.wa.gov
Find what you need 24 hours a day.
Professional Services Consultants
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Get the ball rolling... Call 800-388-2527 today.
Sell your item in The Flea for FREE and tell people ALL ABOUT IT! If you want to sell one or more items and the total price is $150 or less, you can advertise in The Flea for FREE with NO LIMIT on the amount of words used in your ad. Each item must contain a price. No living items.
Call the Flea Line today!
800-388-2527
or email: theflea@soundpublishing.com
Home Services Lawn/Garden Service
Domestic Services
Household Service Offered
* SILVER BAY *
home services Home Services General Contractors
MATCHING Washer and Dryer set, $355. Guaranteed! 360-405-1925
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RANGE, ELECTRIC, GE, 30� wide, black and chrome, glass top, excellent condition, $400. Washer and dryer, Kenmore, electr ic, white, h i g h e f f i c i e n c y, stackable, good condition, $300 for pair. 360813-1128
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LEWIS AND CLARKE Construction
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By Local General Contactor Over 25 Years Experience • Custom Homes • Remodels • Additions & Repairs Central Sound HomesLLC
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CAN YOU HELP? I’ll Help You To Reach Over 64,000 Households in Kitsap County Who Need Your Services! To Place Your Ad, Call
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Appliances
domestic services
stuff
MOTORCYCLE Jacket, Xpert brand, black leather, ladies size 12. Like new! Asking $150. Retails $325 at Eagle L e a t h e r s. B r e m e r t o n . Call 360-479-2378. MOTORCYCLE PANTS, First Gear brand. Ladies size 10, black leather, full side zips. Like new! Asking $125. Retails $300+ from Eagle Leathers. Bremer ton. Call 360-479-2378.
pets/animals Dogs
ANIMAL RESCUE FAMILIES
Is having a Low Cost Spay / Neuter Event on Saturday, February 1st from 11am to 4pm at the Bremer ton Petco. Vouchers for the Surgeries will be issued on that day only. Co-payment from owners for each pet is $30, Cash Only. Maximum 4 pets per family. Va c c i n a t i o n s a r e n o t provided. Kittens / Puppies have to be over 3 months and dogs not older than 8 years, Please do not bring your pet the day you are applying for a voucher. Animal Rescue Families is paying the vets for the full amount of the surgeries. Donations from the public are greatly appreciated!
Need to sell some furniture? Call 800-388-2527 to place your ad today.
Find your perfect pet Search the Classifieds in your local paper to find a pet to fit your family’s lifestyle.
Go online to www.nw-ads.com or look in The Classifieds today. F E B R U A R Y, 2 0 1 4
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Love Is In The Air! Local Businesses Are Ready To Help You Say “I LOVE YOU”!
Buy Local! All Items Are Made Fresh Daily!
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360- 627- 8795 2600 Burwell Street, Bremerton web: slicedbylight.com
Couple shares their service in and out of Navy By TRISH JOHNSON For Veterans Life
Dave Riley travels in style. From one of America’s premier aircraft carriers to a squad car to a winter conveyance pulled by eight reindeer, Riley’s ride is his signature, and he’s happy to share it with his wife, Dee. The Bremerton couple, both of whom are 66, met while serving in the U.S. Navy in 1968. He was assigned to the photo lab aboard the U.S.S. John Kennedy and he worked at the photo lab supply room on shore. Naturally, they were fated to meet. Two months later, in July, they were married. “He had to get photo supplies from me,” Dee recalled. “We were jut in the photo lab supply room together, and we kind of hit it off.” Dave was assigned to the aircraft carrier before it was commissioned, after having served in the Naval Air Reserve in 1965 while he was still in high school at age 18. “Dave served two years active duty and four years inactive reserves,” Dee said. “Back then we had two-year active duty enlistments.” “It was a lot of fun,” said Dave. “I was on a big showboat, everybody came to see it. I was a photographer so I had access
Dannie Oliveaux/staff photo
David and Dee Riley have had a life time of adventures. They are seen above in Bremerton and, at right, during their time in the Navy. to all the photos that came through. I would’ve stayed in but I had a family and they said I’d have sea duty.” Dee left the Navy “when they found out I was pregnant,” she said. “Back then, you had to get out of the military if you were pregnant.” The Riley’s first child,
RACHAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
the ending of his first marriage and the beginning of a new one, with a married member of his church. “I felt I failed the church, God, myself ... but I’m still human,” he acknowledged. His book adeptly describes his challenges, his faith and his triumphs. Making the situation even more difficult is that pastors are expected to lead by example and to challenge church members to follow biblical principles. The Bible highlights a number of moral virtues a church leader should possess, including strength of character, love, caring, grace and humility. Though pastors are human and often teach by reflecting on their own mistakes, they are also expected to maintain a higher standard of behavior to effectively guide others.
“Marriage is for mature individuals,” he said. “If you can’t step outside yourself and still be a self-sufficient person, don’t do it. Can I be honest? We’ve got babies getting married to babies and having babies.” Rachal has been happily married to his second wife, Cherry Rachal, for 22 years. “I love helping people,” Rachal said. “I’m for people. I want every person to be their best. Success is different for everyone.” Rachal hopes to connect with others through his book as well. “The book became because of God in my life,” he said, adding, “The main objective is to help just that one person through the process of failure to triumph.”
David — now 44 — was born in Missouri, where Dee had moved to live with her parents while Dave served his sea duty aboard the John Kennedy. “He left a six-months pregnant wife and came back to a six-month-old baby son,” she said. Two more children, Michael, now 40, and Diane, now 38, followed after Dave had left the Navy and turned in his aircraft carrier for a police squad car. The Rileys, who moved to Bremerton in 1980, just celebrated the birth of their first great-grandchild. Their granddaughter Marisa, who lives in Alaska and is one of 13 Riley grandchildren, gave birth Jan. 13 to a son, Jeremiah Charles Gray Nickoloff. “My father signed for
me to join the Navy when I was 20 in December of 1967,” Dee recalled. “In those days, men could join the service when they turned 18, but women had to wait until they were 21, or have a parent sign for them. “My father said, ‘If I don’t take you down there now, you’ll join when you’re 21 anyway and you’ll always have a beef with me,’” Dee said. Dee said she was prompted into joining the Navy by the climate of the times. “People were burning flags at that time,” she said. “It made me angry. You can say something about my country, but don’t burn our flag. It stands for a good country.” Dee admits there are great differences in the Navy experience for young women now compared to when she served. “They get to do a lot more than we did,” she said. “If they get pregnant they can stay in. A lot of the changes proves a female can do as well as the guys. We’re not as helpless as some people think we are.” Once out of the military, Dave turned his sights on a law enforcement career and served with numerous departments, including the city of St. Louis police department and in Florida — but not before trying to join the Army as a military policeman. “The papers were ready and he was all set,” Dee said, “but then they called and said the job wasn’t open anymore.” Then, nearly 35 years ago, they decided to start their lives over again and headed to Washington,
where Dee had an aunt living in Tacoma. Dave got a job in the shipyard as a policeman. “It was really funny because a year after we got to Washington, my mother and her husband moved to Washington,” Dee said. About 25
years ago Dee was working as a bartender at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post when she heard the American Legion needed a Santa Claus. She felt Dave was perfect for the job and the Rileys started another new era in their lives. “I started out as an elf a year or two after Dave started as Santa,” Dee said. “Somehow, over the years, that gave way to me being Mrs. Claus. I really enjoy that, plus, I look like her.” The couple takes no payment for their visits to organizations, companies and even private homes during November and December. “We just think there’s too much commercializa-
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tion of Christmas now,” Dave explained. “We don’t do this for the money. Beside, sometimes people couldn’t afford to pay us and we don’t want them to miss out. The best part is watching people’s faces,” Dee said. “We don’t do this just for kids, we do it for adults and for special people, handicapp e d people, and the elderly. You have to really be on your toes, too. Kids ask a lot of questions, like ‘Where’s your reindeer?’ and, ‘How’s the snow at the North Pole?’.” Dee said the kids are always fascinated with Santa’s beard, which is real. “They don’t believe us, at first,” she explained. “Then, we tell them to pull it and they’re amazed it doesn’t come off and it’s really there.” “I like helping the kids and the special people,” Dave said. “One of the best parts is you get to meet all kinds of new people.” Last year the couple logged 18 visits as the Clauses, including one in Canada in November. The newest addition last year to the family act are three granddaughters who posed as Santa’s elves. The calls for reservations for Santa and Mrs. Claus, Dee said, start coming in September and October. “I wish I had the money to buy some of the things these people want,” Dee said. “It can be heartbreaking to listen to them.”
655 4th Street Bremerton Washington Showtimes: 360.362.4888 Web: seefilm.net Bring in this ad to redeem. Expires 2/28/2014. One coupon per person, per visit. COUPON CODE: SFB10TVL22014
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C AR E
ABOUT ME.
KEEP ME
SAFE .
HELP ME
HE AL .
From left to right: Lindsay Wellington, RN; Lynne Henning, RN; Frances Greaves, RN; Rana Tan, MD; Nicholas Wyatt, PharmD.
Exceptional Quality, Close to Home Recognized for improvement in patient care.
Over the past century, Harrison Medical Center has seen many changes. Recently, The Joint Commission named us a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures specifically for our quality related to heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgical care. We think this change is exceptionally good for you, our patients. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s premier standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. In 2012, only 10 hospitals in Washington state were named as Top Performers on various measures, a recognition that reflects our exceptional commitment to quality improvement in patient care. We invite you to learn more about Harrison’s quality achievements and the doctors and nurses behind our exceptional, local healthcare. Empathy. Innovation. Accountability. — Your needs come first in all we do.
Bremerton | Silverdale | Port Orchard | Belfair harrisonmedical.org | Referral & Information 866-844-WELL
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The Joint Commission Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® 2012 • • • •
Heart Attack Heart Failure Pneumonia Surgical Care