Military Appreciation - 2020

Military Appreciation Day MARCH 7, 2020, 11 AM to 3 PM | Kitsap Pavilion At The Fairgrounds

A supplement of the Bainbridge ISLAND Review, Central Kitsap Reporter, North Kitsap Herald, AND Port Orchard Independent

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FEBRUARY 28, 2020

We’re Proud to Support the Military Every Day of the Year!

The Kitsap County Board of Commissioners is proud to support the military, not only on Military Appreciation Day, but every day of the year! The U.S. Armed Forces have had a presence in Kitsap County since 1891. There are nearly 13,000 active-duty military and 36,000 retirees in the county today.

The military are the pride and strength of our nation, our county and our communities. Military personnel have worked and lived alongside the loggers, fishermen, farmers, shipyard and sawmill workers, manufacturers and small business owners who have built our county into one of the greatest in the state.

The Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board, comprised of veteran volunteers, keeps the Board of County Commissioners informed on the needs of veterans, helps distribute temporary emergency assistance and supports efforts to address challenges such as housing, job retraining and health services. We owe a debt of gratitude for the sacrifices you and your families have made to preserve and protect our freedoms.

Thank you for your selflessness, courage and dedication to defending this nation.

Your Kitsap County Board of Commissioners

www.kitsapgov.com

Charlotte Garrido, Chair Robert Gelder Edward E. Wolfe

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FEBRUARY 28, 2020 military appreciation day

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Show your appreciation by supporting military families

By Gov. Jay Inslee

O

n behalf of all Washingtonians, let me give my whole-hearted thanks to the more than 79,000 active duty military, National Guard and reserve forces in Washington for their contributions to our state and our country.

Military families deserve our thanks this Military Appreciation Day, and every day.

I know it is not only the servicemen and women who serve their communities but also their spouses and children, who, undaunted, take on the hardship and uncertainty that comes with seeing a loved one potentially deployed overseas.

About 53% of service members are married, which means about 30,000 military spouses live in Washington.

About a year ago, I met with a group of military spouses who told me moving stories of how they’ve struggled to make ends meet. They already live with the challenge of following their spouses around the world; they deserve help with the other challenges these moves portend.

We know that spouses often face economic uncertainty due to reassignments to different military installations every 18 to 36 months, making spouses more likely to face unemployment and underemployment as they try to find new jobs, education or training credentials. A 2018 study by the federal Defense Manpower Data Center found active duty spouses have a 24% unemployment rate, while 56% of military spouses report being underemployed.

Military spouses also earn about 27% less than non-military spouses, according to the study. We can do better for these families who do so much for us.

After hearing these stories, my administration set to work.

In May of last year, I issued an executive order to build upon the state’s efforts to support military spouses and veterans with employment and training opportunities. These ongoing efforts include support for veteran- and spouse-owned businesses; veteran hiring campaigns; improving the process of accepting out-

Governor Jay Inslee

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FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Honored to salute you

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our armed forces. I’m also working to hold the VA accountable to ensure that it reimburses all student veterans who did not receive the housing benefits they have earned and deserve.

Additionally, I’m working to ensure the federal government makes progress toward ensuring housing for military families meets the highest standards of health and safety.

While every day offers the chance to thank those who serve our country, the 2020 Military Appreciation Day is a special opportunity for us to express our thanks and support. The volunteers and sponsors from around Kitsap County who make today possible embody the spirit of our community and demonstrate our commitment to America’s heroes who live and work among us. Today, our community – in one voice – says thank you.

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I

write today with a simple, yet far too often neglected message: to thank all the men and women who have served – and continue to serve – our country.

Saying “thank you” is important. But those words must be backed up by action. It’s pretty simple. If you fight for your country, you shouldn’t have to fight for a job. In the land of the free and the home of the brave, every brave veteran should have a home. In our region, or anywhere else in our country, you should have access to the benefits you’ve earned.

Our region has a special connection toREADY those IS YOUR TODDLER OR PRE-K CHILD FOR who serve and defend our way of life.

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live and work in our community. They are our neighbors and friends. We shop together at the grocery store. Our children play together. We pray together. They strengthen the fabric of our community. But their dedication and sacrifices are felt beyond our region and reverberate across America through their sacrifice and service, and by their efforts to uphold our freedoms and values.

We owe them – and their families – our heartfelt thanks. I also believe that if you fight for our country, our government should have your back.

As your representative, I am focused on making sure lawmakers in Washington, DC support our veterans and military families back home. I will continue to go to bat for our local military installations and ensure that they receive investments they need to maintain the readiness of

that our team is committed to working for you.

Every veteran and every military family should get the recognition and care they both deserve and have earned. If you are struggling with the VA or another federal agency, feel free to reach out to my Bremerton office at (360) 373-9725.

If you see something that the government can do better, do not hesitate to reach out.

To those who serve, I am honored to salute and welcome you – my neighbors and friends – to Kitsap County’s 2020 Military Appreciation Day. Today is your day, and the chance for all of us to show our appreciation. To others from our community who plan to join in the festivities or share information about your local business or organization, thank you for showing your support for our heroes.

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And to all those who have served, past or present, thank you.

FEBRUARY 28, 2020 military appreciation day

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Bremerton stands by its service members A message from Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler of Navy, I am committed to a strong quality of life for those living in our neighborhoods, new housing across our City, walkable communities, and the best police and fire protection. As part of that focus, our City is currently working on initiatives to develop new affordable housing, improve local parks and recreational opportunities, and upgrade infrastructure like streets and sidewalks, among other improvements. Through all of these initiatives, our goal is to make our City one of the best places to live, work and play in the region.

The City of Bremerton has a long-term legacy and heritage due to Naval Base Kitsap, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance facility. This year, I am proud to be working in partnership with Naval Base Kitsap – Bremerton to develop a study to help with transportation and traffic flow around the base as well as through the City. These improvements will help with future funding for parking, street improvements, sidewalks, bike facilities, commuter rail, among others, in our community.

Mayor Greg Wheeler

T

he City of Bremerton is pleased to support Military Appreciation events in our community and recognizes the strong commitment by our active duty members, our retired veterans

and those separating from service to our country.

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FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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Continuing to serve on the waterfront A message from Capt. Dianna Wolfson, commander, PSNS & IMF

W

hen I heard the news that I would take Jason Steinmetz served as an infantryman in the command of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Army. While on deployment in Kunar Province, & Intermediate Maintenance Facility, I Afghanistan, Jason and his team were attacked. He was thrilled. What an opportunity, suffered permanent nerve damage to work among the talent and experto the right side of his body as a tise of the more than 15,000 people “[Veterans] continue to result of the attack and medically employed by the largest public ship- make our workforce and retired. Today Jason, a Purple Heart yard in the country. recipient, works as a radiological community better by controls technician at the shipyard.

One of the many special aspects of exemplifying invaluable After completing a grueling physical PSNS & IMF is its unique workforce. traits of the military recovery, he now competes in Spartan At PSNS & IMF not only would I culture every day. In races five to seven times a year. work alongside talented active duty, reservists and civilians, I would be taking the helm of an organization with 3,741 veterans – nearly 30 percent of its workforce.

their daily work and roles, I see discipline, responsibility, integrity and patience” – Capt. Dianna Wolfson

While I’m proud of all of my employees and the energy and innovation they bring to work every day, today in honor of Military Appreciation Day, I’d like to tell you about some of the veterans who are now serving the shipyard distinctly.

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Thank you for your service to our Country.

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FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Translating war recollections to paper Port Orchard veteran collects writing medals at national competition

By BOB SMITH

rsmith@soundpublishing.com

Eagles who had become infirm or disabled by mowing their lawns.

ort Orchard resident and Eagles Club member Ken Bicha admits he wasn’t born with a pen in hand and a story in his mind that just had to be told. A creative writer, he wasn’t.

“I would mow 8 to 10 lawns to help Eagles shut-ins,” he said. “Afterward, I got a ‘complaint’ from one of the neighbors, who said the lawn I mowed was looking better than the others in the neighborhood!”

The Vietnam veteran, who is known around town as a civic go-getter and community activist, instead spent most of his life in the persuasion game of sales. Working mostly in Montana during his earlier years, Bicha was adept at sales: inside, outside and direct. And after moving to Port Orchard 17 years ago, the affable Bicha also worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Bremerton before retiring when he turned 62.

It wasn’t until he joined forces with his son Sean, who is a visual artist, that the Army vet tried his hand at creative writing a decade ago.

He found himself so adept at writing that he won a silver medal in 2006 at the national level of the annual National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and American Legion Auxiliary.

P

Retired, but not the retiring type at that age, the veteran got more involved in the activities planned by the Port Orchard Eagles, especially in helping the South Kitsap Helpline and its food bank. Bicha also turned to assisting fellow

This annual arts competition enlists thousands of entries from veterans in categories ranging from drama, dance, music, art, sculpture, photography and creative writing. The See PAPER, page 17

Thank you for you Courage, Sacrifice and Service.

Bob Smith/Kitsap News Group Port Orchard resident and Eagles Club member Ken Bicha displays his winning entries for past National Veterans Creative Arts Festival competitions.

Thank you Military Members for Your Service!

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Valentines for veterans Congressman delivers Valentines Day cards to Retsil Veterans Home

By KEN PARK

kpark@soundpublishing.com

V

eterans across the sixth district of Washington received a special gift from Congressional Representative Derek Kilmer this past Valentines Day.

Rep. Kilmer and his district office launched a “Valentines for Veterans” program on Feb. 5. The program connects students across the district to veterans and encourages them write cards to thank them for service. Rep. Kilmer and his office delivered the cards to Retsil Veterans Home on Feb. 14.

“We can never thank our veterans enough,” said Rep. Kilmer. “They committed themselves to keep our country safe, and they continue to serve our community every day. This Valentine’s Day, let’s show them some love. I encourage community members and local schools to help me express our gratitude for our veterans.”

Participants dropped off Valentine’s Day cards at Rep. Kilmer’s Tacoma and Bremerton offices throughout the week leading up to Valentines Day, before the congressman delivered the cards to the veteran’s home.

Ken Park/Kitsap News Group Congressman Derek Kilmer delivers Valentine’s Day cards to residents at Retsil Veterans Home.

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FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Zero fork thirty Green Berets go gourmet with Axe & Arrow Gastropub

By TYLER SHUEY

tshuey@soundpublishing.com

F

or retired military service members, finding the next chapter of their life is often met with challenges and can take time to adjust. In the case of two retired Army Special Forces members turned gastropub owners, Jack Hastings and Jeremy Burke’s, post-military plans came much quicker than expected.

The two Army veterans, along with former California fire captain Tom Lemoine, opened Axe & Arrow Gastropub in downtown Bremerton last May. Since opening the owners have focused their efforts on creating a community gathering place where many active-duty members and veterans go to chow down and grab a brew.

Both Hastings and Burke grew up in Massachusetts and pursued an Army career shortly after high school.

“For as long as I remember I wanted to join the Army and I wanted to travel the world and see exotic places,” Hastings said. “I joined straight out of high school, couldn’t wait to leave. I wanted to jump out of planes and do all kinds of exciting stuff. I was a boy scout and eagle scout so the Army was a good transition from that in terms of discipline, honor and values.”

“Initially, being a teenager, I went to school for construction and that was my calling,” Burke said. “Then duty called during the first Gulf War, it just seemed like the right choice to make at the time.”

Hastings served for a total of 32 years in the Army with 17 of those years in the infamous Army Special Forces — commonly called the Green Berets. Burke served for 27 years with 17 of them spent in the Special Forces, rotating deployments in Japan, Korea and Thailand.

“What we specialize in is going to foreign countries and being a representative for the United States to these other Special Forces units that are in these countries; working

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Burke Axe & Arrow co-owner Jeremy Burke in the Thailand jungles during his Army Special Forces service.

with them, training with them mostly to get a foothold into these areas and to build the rapport,” Burke said of the work of Special Forces overseas. “It’s mostly the training that we do that makes us the most sought after partner.”

Hastings, who is credited with giving rise to the idea of the gastropub, said many ideals and principles from his years of service prepared him for his next venture.

“The most important thing my experience taught me was the value of relationships, respect and getting to know people; caring about who they are, where they’re from and showing genuine interest in them,” he said. There is a general affinity for Americans around the world despite what you might see in the media.”

“The people that we met, regardless of what country it was, were often really excited to meet an American,” Hastings went on to say. “Either they hadn’t met one or we didn’t turn out to be what they expected. We were benefitting their communities through the work we were doing; empowering their military and police in some cases. The work we did really had a big impact at the local level.”

As both Hastings and Burke neared retirement, they both took jobs as military contractors working for U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific in Hawaii. Hastings had already moved to the Olympic Peninsula in 2017, but took the contracting job to gather up some seed money to open the gastropub.

Burke, on the other hand, was already living in Hawaii with his family and was readying for a move back to Massachusetts.

Every hour or minute that I wasn’t working, I was working on the business proposal, business plan, projections, menu, finding a chef,” Hastings said. “None of us come from a restaurant or [tourism] background. Our travels have introduced us to many different

styles of food and I think it’s made us really appreciative of good food. It was just a desire to create a place that is welcoming and fun for our guests.”

According to Hastings, the timing couldn’t have worked out better because for the two as they both ended up working in the same cubical, with Burke often serving as a sounding board for Hastings ideas for the gastropub.

Once Hastings and Lemoine, who was in on the project before Burke, agreed to go forward with the business, Hastings moved back to Western Washington, having decided to go all-in on the Axe and Arrow.

“After talking with Tom, we really decided we wanted a third partner and I always had Jeremy in the back of my mind,” Hastings said. “I reached out to Jeremy to become an equal partner in this business with us and he had just decided to leave Hawaii and head back to Massachusetts but didn’t have any plans; he was about to close on a house. It was pretty amazing timing, I think if I waited a day or two to call him, he would have closed on that house.”

“I was in Hawaii just trying to figure out

Photo courtesy of Jack Hastings Axe & Arrow co-owner Jack Hastings during a deployment to Eastern Afghanistan.

what I was going to do for retirement,” Burke said. “We were both pretty lucky to be in Special Forces where the community is pretty tight. By being able to talk to someone that he was comfortable talking to, it was kind of therapeutic for him to get it straight in his head by talking about it.”

“Never did I think that in a few months or weeks that I would be a part of it,” Burke continued. “I declined an offer on the house and moved out here. The environment is just really similar to where I’m from so that made it a lot more comfortable for me to land here and be comfortable with my family moving here as well. It just seems like the cards sort of fell into place.”

See ZERO, A15

FEBRUARY 28, 2020 military appreciation day

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Giving something back Local stand downs offer services and resources to local vets

By TYLER SHUEY

tshuey@soundpublishing.com

S

ince 2007, local grassroots nonprofit Kitsap Area Veterans Alliance has been holding Stand Downs to help assist those veterans and their families in need, through a variety of resources and services.

Stand Downs act as a resource fair for veterans and their families, offering information, resources and free services for those in need.

Complimentary services for veterans and their families include dental screening, veteran’s assistance, housing, employment, education and counseling. Qualifying veterans and family members also receive free clothing, sleeping bags, groceries and personal hygiene items.

In order for veterans and their families to attend a Stand Down, they need only provide their DD214 paperwork, military retiree ID card, or VA card.

“The idea is to get low-income, indigent veterans these services that they can use,” Stand Down Committee Chair Jim McKenna said at last fall’s Stand Down. “We are a volunteer organization, so all these people are volunteering their hours. It’s just wonderful.”

The Kitsap Stand Down started when a group of veterans got together and decided to do something to positively impact local veterans who are in need of various resources and services, according to McKenna. At the first Stand Down event, held in October 2007, nearly 100 attendees showed up at the Sheridan Park Community Center, the same venue where it is still held today, McKenna said.

About eight or nine years ago, the event had grown so much in attendance that KAVA decided to conduct two Stand Downs a year - one in the spring and one in the fall.

Around that time, the Kitsap County Veterans Assistance Program became involved with the event, McKenna said.

The upcoming spring Stand Down will be the 25th such event in Kitsap County. The resource and services fair is closing in on 4,000 total attendees, which includes veterans and their family members, McKenna said.

“We typically see 120 to 180 veterans, along with spouses and dependents beyond that,” McKenna continued. “We are a large percentage of the veteran community, so this helps support the veterans in our area.”

Tyler Shuey/Kitsap News Group A veteran gets a free haircut at the 24th Kitsap County Veterans Stand Down last fall.

McKenna said some 150 veterans and their family members came out to the Stand Down last fall. The event served 253 hot meals, gave out 200 grocery bags and 30 sleeping bags and provided dental services to 24 veterans. Helping to organize the event was a team of 125 volunteers.

Combat veteran Bill Simons was one of the veterans on hand last fall who represented the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.

Simons has been going to the Stand Downs for about five years and said he served in the Navy for 23 years, including conducting special projects in Vietnam.

On the matter of prep time needed by KAVA to put into each Stand Down, Veterans Assistance Program Coordinator Andy Sargent said that more than 10,000 man-hours of volunteer time are needed to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Simons said the Stand Down event is a great resource for those in need, as well as a good place to catch up with fellow veterans.

“That’s quite a commitment,” he said. “To me, the heavy lifting is organizing the volunteers and getting the people there. KAVA does that superbly year after year.”

Agencies providing services at the Stand Downs include the Department of Veterans Affairs, Olympic College, Veterans Service Organizations, Kitsap Legal Services, Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Social and Health Services, American Red Cross, Kitsap Community Resources and Kitsap Transit, among others.

“There is always something you can pick up,” he said. “You always run into somebody you know from somewhere or stationed at the same place. It’s about the only time we get to see each other. It’s kind of cool.”

The 23-year Navy veteran ventured through the various resources, finding hearing aids, as well as attempting to coordinate an Honor Flight to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., to see his name etched in the memorial.

“I think it’s fabulous,” Simons said of the Stand Down. “It really helps out a lot of [veterans] who don’t have anything.”

According to McKenna, the Stand Down’s

most popular services are the dental vans, hot food, clothing and haircuts.

“I think it’s very vital,” McKenna said. “I’m a Vietnam veteran and one of the things you run into is the fact that sometimes [veterans] are forgotten. They’re the ones who are maybe camping out behind Walmart. This allows them to at least get some warm clothing and food. It does have an impact.”

Sargent estimates that Kitsap County is home to some 38,000 veterans.

“It’s ok to ask for help,” Sargent said. “That’s something that goes totally against the military culture and training. In my personal experience, it was ‘suck it up and make the mission.’ We all hit the wall at some point in our lives and our job here is to help you get off the wall and back on your feet and get your life going again.

Veterans helping veterans.”

Sargent said the next Stand Down will be held at the end of April. Anyone interested in attending can find out more information at kitsapgov.com/hs/Pages/VAB-STANDDOWN.aspx.

Page 12 military appreciation day

FEBRUARY 28, 2020

A chance to say thank you!

Military Appreciation Day gives something back to service members

By KEN PARK

families.

kpark@soundpublishing.com

A

part from the Kitsap County Fair, Military Appreciation Day is one of the most popular events held at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

The event has been going on for over 20 years and was created as a way to bring the community together with military and veteran families as well as introduce military families and veterans to services and businesses throughout Kitsap County.

With over 75 vendors this event offers fun activities for the whole family, from bounce houses and carnival games to military vehicles and weapons on display.

As well as food, drinks, and information booths for military personnel and their

While the event is open to the public there will be some special events, such as a raffle of over 50 prizes, that are specifically for active duty and retired military/ military families.

This event is powered by the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee along with other top sponsors.

One of the sponsors is the Commercial Driving School in Port Orchard, where 75 percent of its staff are military veterans.

“Showing our appreciation and support for military members and their families is something that is exceptionally important to CDS. We believe that we live in the greatest country on earth and

Photo courtesy of Debbie Gilman Photography Former NBK commanding officer Alan Schrader addresses the audience at the 2019 Military Appreciation Day event.

See APPRECIATION, page 16

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Page 13

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Page 14 military appreciation day

FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Military services directory American LegionKitsap County Post #172 Bainbridge Island 7880 Bucklin Hill Road Hall Phone: 206-780-6858 Voice Mail: 206-842-5000 Meetings: First and third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m.

Post #149 Bremerton 4922 Kitsap Way Lounge: 360-373-8983 Office: 360-616-0929 Hours: Mon-Thurs 12 p.m.- 10 p.m. Fri-Sat 12 p.m.- 12 a.m.

Sunday 12 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Meetings: Third Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m.

Post #245 Poulsbo (American Legion Veterans Service Office) 19705 Viking Ave NW, 2nd Floor 360-779-5456

Meetings: Every third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at First Lutheran Church Hours: Thursday’s 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Post #30 Port Orchard 615 Kendall St. 360-813-5399 Meetings: First and third Wednesday’s of the month at 7 p.m. except in July.

Post #109 Silverdale 10710 Silverdale Way NW Meeting: Third Monday of each month 7:00 p.m.

Contact: 360-649-3663

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)- Kitsap County Post #239 Bremerton 190 Dora Ave. 360-377-6739 Hours: Mon-Thursday 2 p.m. - 9

p.m. Friday 2 p.m. - 10 p.m. SatSun 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Meetings: First and third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.

Suquamish Warriors Veterans Center 6353 Middle Street 360-626-1080

Post #4992 9981 Central Valley Road 360-698-9177 Hours: 9-2 p.m. (by appointment) Meetings: Second Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m.

Veterans Organizations

Post #2669- Port Orchard 3100 SE Mile Hill Drive 360-876-2669 Hours: 2 - 8 p.m.

Meetings: Second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

Tribal Veterans Services Suquamish Tribe Veterans Office 18490 Suquamish Way NE 360-394-8515

Disabled American Veterans Chapter 5 4980 Auto Center Way Bremerton 360-373-2397 Hours: Monday- Wednesday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Meetings: First Saturday of every month at noon.

Kitsap County Veterans Assistance Program Contact Andrew Sargent asargent@co.kitsap.wa.us 360-337-4811

Work Source Kitsap County 1300 Sylvan Way, Bremerton 360-337-4810 Hours: Mon-Thursday 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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Bremerton VA Outpatient Clinic 925 Adele Ave 360-307-6920 Hours: Mon-Tues and Thurs-Fri 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Wed 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

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FEBRUARY 28, 2020 military appreciation day

ZERO CONTINUED FROM 10

Since it’s opening, Axe and Arrow has become a hotspot for beer and grub for the local community and has been sort of a seamless transition into civilian life for the two longtime Army veterans.

“It worked out better than we could have imagined,” Hastings said. “The community’s been tremendously supportive. The thing that matters to Jeremy and I is giving back to the community. That’s the reason why I chose to retire here. Our motto is good food, good service, community connected. We really take that community connection seriously.”

Even though Hastings and Burke have moved on from their military careers, they both work to honor the Navy town of Bremerton by offering a 10 percent discount for all former and active-duty military, as well as being involved with local veterans groups Left Right Straight and the Vet Tribe.

Many Paths Acupuncture Thank You For Your Service and Sacrifice Mark Duhamel M.S., E.A.M.P. 700 Prospect Street, Suite 101, Port Orchard, WA 98366 360-621-8310 | mark@manypaths.org www.manypathsacupuncture.com

The City of Bremerton Supports and Honors our Military Veterans, Personnel and Families.

- Mayor Greg Wheeler

We thank you for your service

Page 15

“Jeremy and I really get the gratification of having a place like this where we can do those types of events and raise funds to support those groups,” Hastings said. “We have an increasing number of Navy events, which we’re really happy with and proud of. People seem to be genuinely interested in knowing what we did and what our backgrounds are and they do seem tremendously appreciative and supportive of our business, which is certainly not expected, but I’m always grateful for when people do say thank you.”

Last November, the owners dedicated a remembrance table in honor of fallen service members.

“We left it up for the entire month,” Hasting said. “It’s a military tradition we really respect and honor. It’s a way to remember our fallen brothers and sisters.”

Axe & Arrow is located at 232 4th Street in Bremerton. For more information on menu or events visit axeandarrow.com or check out their Facebook page.

12

Tyler Shuey/Kitsap News Group The Axe & Arrow Gastropub is located at 242 4th St. in Bremerton.

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Page 16 military appreciation day

Appreciation day.

APPRECIATION CONTINUED FROM 12

that is due largely to our outstanding military men and women, without them we wouldn’t enjoy the freedoms we do,” Campus Director Jody Armstrong said.

The CDS started a nonprofit that helps connect those in the military and their spouses with careers that allow them to move when their spouse’s station changes, there is no cost to the service for military families.

“We have a unique opportunity within the transportation industry. Many of the companies that hire our students as drivers are also looking for non-driver positions to be filled. Most of these companies are nationwide companies with offices near every military installation. If we can get a service member’s spouse a job with one of these companies, that job is transferable a lot of times. This means that they can keep a continuous career with one company as they transfer duty stations with their spouse. We have found this to be extremely helpful for military members and their families,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong himself is a veteran and noted that had this existed while he was in the military it would have been much easier for his spouse to maintain her career when they moved every three to four years.

“We are always looking for ways to support our military and their families. We have several staff members who are military spouses and being in a military community we feel it is important to let them know we appreciate all they do for us,” Office Manager for Poulsbo Kids & Family Dentistry Mickie Petersen said. “ We feel this is one small thing we can do to give back to our military members and their families in the community.”

Poulsbo Kids & Family Dentistry is often a preferred provider for military families with dental insurance through TriCare. Understanding that moving around can be stressful the office works to make sure their patients’ previous dental records are transferred to and from their offices.

“With so many moving parts that is one thing we do not want the families to have to worry about,” Petersen said.

One of the organizers of this event is Jennifer Perryman, Campus Director at Brandman University who concluded that the event wouldn’t be possible without all of the sponsors and vendors.

“We are fortunate to live in a community that loves the military,” Perryman, said.

FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Military Appreciation Day Vice president: Terry R. Ward Advertising director: Eran Kennedy Sales manager: Harmony Liebert Multi-media Account Executives: Priscilla Wakefield, Brenda Jorgens, Brittney Tatro, Joshua Jakola Bainbridge Island Review editor : Brian Kelly

North Kitsap Herald and Central Kitsap Reporter editor : Nick Twietmeyer Port Orchard Independent editor: Bob Smith Writers: Tyler Shuey, Ken Park Publication design: Bryon Kempf Creative artists: Bryon Kempf, Raquee Rivera

Cover photo: SAN DIEGO (Sept. 19, 2018) Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell Smith speaks at an all-hands call in the hangar bay of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dylan M. Kinee/Released)

The event kicks off March 7 at 11 a.m. at the Kitsap Sun Pavillion at the Bremerton Fairgrounds.

P.O. Box 278, Poulsbo, WA 98370 | 19351 8th Avenue NE, Ste 106, Poulsbo, WA 98370 Office (360) 779-4464 | www.soundpublishing.com Copyright 2020 Sound Publishing

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that I wish that I had never seen. If I could unsee some stuff, that’d be nice. Everybody would like to be able to do that.”

PAPER CONTINUED FROM 8

overall mission of the competition, he said, is not only to showcase the talent of this nation’s veterans, but also to provide many of them a way to work through their emotional issues brought about by their wartime encounters through creative, positive endeavors that mine the soul for answers or coping mechanisms.

“The competition is held in part to help people with PTSD and other afflictions picked up while serving the nation,” he said. “Everybody comes back from their service a different person.”

War is the great equalizer The vet said while each person has their own political viewpoint that’s distinct and dissimilar from others, they are affected the same way when they get shot. They share the visceral, physical pain of the body and, later, battle the mental demons that may lie within.

Bicha said many veterans affected by wartime conditions have found a way to express their emotions through artistry. He recounted that a number of artists, when asked to express their feelings about wartime onto a painter’s canvas, they covered it in a stark black pigment.

Another painter sketched an image of himself with his head substituted by a hand grenade.

moving to an area west of Da Nang and later to Hue. He remembers his time stationed in Vietnam as one of not only military conflict, but as a time of conflict of opinions.

“War is hell, and hundreds of thousands of combat veterans struggle as we deal with and try to forget the painful horrors of war.

As we returned to the ‘real world,’ we tried to cope with those sanguinary, imbrued sights and the shocking, disgusting, evil sounds of war. ” – Ken Bicha

Bicha counts himself among the lucky following his military service with the Army in Vietnam in 1967-68. He was an artillery liaison officer positioned for a time close to the Cambodian and Laotian border, flanking a mountain top. Upon first arriving in Vietnam, he initially was part of the military’s airport security team in Saigon. While his unit occasionally engaged with the Viet Cong, he saw more sustained conflict after

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

“I don’t care whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, when you get shot, you’re like any other person. If you have a traumatic brain injury or PTSD, it’s a scar that nobody sees on the outside. There are some things over there

Page 17

“There was lots of sentiment against the war, that’s for sure,” Bicha said. “I was interviewed by someone back then about it. I said that while I didn’t necessarily agree with the mission in Vietnam, my country told me to do the job and I answered the call.”

After winning silver on his first try, the veteran decided to enlist his budding talent in writing as a way to promote the Port Orchard Eagles.

“My son had gotten out of the Navy and was planning on entering something in the contest, and that’s when I got involved,” Bicha said of his first foray into the competition in 2009.

But it was in 2016 that Bicha won a gold medal for his writing “Reverence and Respect,” a short piece he wrote about the significance of

a simple hand salute.

‘Reverence and Respect’ “… These proud soldiers snapped to attention and rendered a hand salute during the Pledge of Allegiance. Actually, they didn’t exactly snap to attention, as several of them required assistance to a standing position by family members or shipmates. Knees and hips were flexed and most of them were also bent forward at the waist… Their hands were so crippled with arthritis that they were curled up almost into a fist.”

’Hell’s Smells’ His 2009 silver medal entry, “Hell’s Smells,” recounted the aromas he remembered while at war — and the vivid recollections they brought back to him thousands of miles away from the battlefield.

“War is hell, and hundreds of thousands of combat veterans struggle as we deal with and try to forget the painful horrors of war. As we returned to the ‘real world,’ we tried to cope with those sanguinary, imbrued sights and the shocking, disgusting, evil sounds of war. These despairing, backward glimpses, or flashbacks, that we pray would stop haunting us, are often launched by olfactory stimuli … the smells of war.”

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activity on vessels in the shipyard.

Chris Baker served as an Air Force nuclear weapons technician and an Army human intelligence collector. While deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he assisted men, women and children in villages south of Baghdad. Today he works as a technician in the shipyard’s radiological control office.

Carolyn Kirmil first served as a data processing technician in the Navy, and retired after 22 years of military service as a chief information technician. Today she works in records management, where she works with different shops around the shipyard, teaching them how to maintain their records. What I think Carolyn would most want you to know is that all four of her children joined the military and is so very proud of them. They are a military family with over 75 years of service and counting.

Brian Bodaly began his first career in the Navy, rising to the rank of chief personnel specialist, then earned his commission as an officer, and retired as a commander after 29

years of service. He now works in the shipyard’s human resources office as a drug program coordinator.

Chontay Woodruff served as a logistics aviation storekeeper in the Navy for 20 years.

Today she works as a technical information specialist in our industry management department.

Katherine Amerman started her career serving as a Navy hospital corpsman with the Marines. Today she works as a workload forecaster in the business and strategic planning office.

While these seven individuals– and their 3,734 veteran counterparts at the shipyard – now wear civilian clothes, they continue to make our workforce and community better by exemplifying invaluable traits of the military culture every day. In their daily work and roles, I see discipline, responsibility, integrity and patience, and I see them as leaders among their colleagues and counterparts.

On this Military Appreciation Day, I am grateful for the military in my life – veterans, active duty, reserve and retirees – and for what they contribute to both the shipyard and the Puget Sound community. One mission – one team, and a job well done!

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of-state employment license credentials; and including military spouses in veteran hiring programs already underway at state agencies. This is a good start, but it is not enough.

Following my executive order, I had the directors of the state departments of Veterans Affairs and Employment Security conduct listening sessions across the state with military spouses and service members, including one at Naval Base Kitsap in September.

Those efforts led to recommendations we’re currently pursuing in state government, such as improving employer partnerships, removing employment barriers such as contract penalties when a spouse moves due to military reassignments, increasing access to childcare and licensure portability.

My office and state agencies are working closely with legislators on two important bills: House Bill 2303 on professional licensure for military spouses

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and House Bill 2730 addressing military spouse employment. The first bill would require state agencies to issue provisional professional licenses while their out-of-state license credentials are being processed; the second would let spouses cancel employment contracts without penalties and fund a public campaign to hire military spouses.

We are determined to help get military spouses back into the workforce quickly, not only because it is the right thing to do, but it also is good for a family’s bottom line, retaining members of our military, and for transitioning our service members to civilian life. Military families also dedicated to doing it in a way that protects consumers, labor and industry by maintaining the high standards we set for professional licensure in the state.

As your governor, I want you to know that the needs of military families are heard and your work is appreciated. Thank you again to Washington’s service members and their families for the untold sacrifices they have made to strengthen our communities.

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Page 19

Did you know… · Approximately 15% of the world’s population suffers from tinnitus, commonly known as ringing in the ears. · Ninety percent of those people with tinnitus have hearing loss. · You are 15% more likely to have hearing loss and 10% more likely to have tinnitus if you have experienced noise exposure If you work around loud noise such as heavy machinery or firearms, you owe it to your ears to understand the dangers and how to protect against them. Our approach is simple; making you aware of any hearing injury, treating any existing hearing injury, and conserving your hearing into the future.

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FEBRUARY 28, 2020

West Hills Autoplex will match all manufacturer incentives for the military.* Coupon Code: MILAPPR20SL

AUTO GROUP

DISCLAIMER: *ALL STORES AT WEST HILLS AUTOPLEX (EXCLUDING HASELWOOD CHEVROLET BUICK GMC) WILL MATCH ALL MANUFACTURER INCENTIVES FOR MILITARY (EXAMPLE: IF A MANUFACTURER OFFERS A $500 DISCOUNT, THEN WEST HILLS AUTOPLEX WILL MATCH THE $500). NON-ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL CAN STILL QUALIFY FOR THE HASELWOOD MILITARY SAVINGS PROGRAM, EVEN IF THEY DON’T QUALIFY FOR THE MANUFACTURER MILITARY PROGRAMS. HASELWOOD CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CUSTOMERS WILL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL $500 OFF IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR SERVICE. BRING THIS AD AND PROOF OF MILITARY SERVICE IN TO ANY WEST HILLS AUTOPLEX DEALERSHIP TO REDEEM. THIS OFFER MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH CERTAIN OFFERS PRESENTED THROUGH WEST HILLS AUTOPLEX DEALERS. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS RELATED TO THIS AND OTHER OFFERS. EXPIRES ON 5/25/2020.