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“OUR ANNUAL ARMED FORCES PARADE IS THE LONGEST RUNNING AND LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES!” A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT OF THE KITSAP NAVY NEWS, BREMERTON PATRIOT AND CENTRAL KITSAP REPORTER THE 63RD ANNUAL ARMED FORCES DAY PARADE IS SATURDAY, MAY 21 STARTING AT 10:00AM ARMED FORCES 2011 FESTIVAL GUIDE
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Page 1: /Armed_Forces_2011

“OUR ANNUAL ARMED FORCES PARADE IS THE LONGEST RUNNING AND LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES!”

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT OF THE KITSAP NAV Y NEWS, BREMERTON PATRIOT AND CENTRAL KITSAP REPORTER

THE 63RD ANNUAL ARMED FORCES DAY PARADE IS SATURDAY, MAY 21 STARTING AT 10:00AM

ARMED FORCES2011 FESTIVAL GUIDE

Page 2: /Armed_Forces_2011

Page 2 aRMeD FORCeS DaY 2011 MaY, 2011

Armed Forces Day 2011 In celebration of Armed Forces Day—and every day, Harrison salutes

the men and women in uniform and their families.

Page 3: /Armed_Forces_2011

MAY, 2011 ARMED FORCES DAY 2011 PAgE 3

The parade cast is set and the line up bristol for the 63rd annual Bremerton Armed Forces Day Parade in downtown Bremerton.

As usual the float line up is full with 150 entries and 18 march-ing bands. As the Armed Forces Festival centerpiece, the proces-sion is sure to keep Bremerton home of the largest Armed Forces Day Parade in the nation.

Entries and marching bands will bring the streets of Bremerton alive with support for the nation’s men and women serving in five branches of the U.S. armed forces in all capacities around the world to ensure the American way of life stays true, propourus and secure.

Serving as Military grand mar-shal for the 63rd annual parade

is Rear Admiral Douglass T. Biesel, commander Navy Region Northwest.

As the first commander of Naval Base Kitsap, Biesel brought national recognition to the newly expanded base that combined four commands into one with the Commander in Chief ’s Award for Installation Excellence for the best base in the Navy.

63rd Annual Bremerton Armed Forces Day Parade has marching orders

A publication of Kitsap News Group — a division of Sound Publishing, Western Washington’s leading publisher of community newpapers headquartered in Poulsbo.

PUBLISHER Sean McDonald [email protected]

EDITOR Gregory Skinner [email protected]

LAYOUT & DESIgN Bryon Kempf

MARKETINg REPRESENTATIVES Wayne Nelson, Chris Olson, Melissa Kuntz, Rita Nicholson, Mike Schiro, Frank Portello & Donna Etchey

Production Artists Bryon Kempf, Bruce Pritchard

63rd Armed Forces Day Guide

Rear Admiral Douglass T. Biesel, military grand marshal 2011

Page 4: /Armed_Forces_2011

By FC2 Jared MantoothPSNS & IMF, Public Affairs Office

Congratulations to GSM2 Michael Miller, on his selection as the PSNS&IMF 2010 Junior Sailor of the Year. Miller is from southwest Idaho and joined the Navy on May 20, 2003. After graduating from boot camp he attended GSM “A” School in Great Lakes Ill., fol-lowed by a sea tour on board the USS COWPENS(CG-63). After three years on board Miller was chosen for Special Programs and transferred to Assault Craft Unit 5 until March 2009 when he reported to Intermediate Maintenance Facility Pacific Northwest.

After arriving at IMF Miller soon distinguished himself in shop 31F, Hydraulics Shop, as an accomplished

mechanic, and is now lead military mechanic. Currently the Second Class Petty Officer Association’s Vice President, he also filled in as President for the organization for more than six months during a vacancy.

“I was grateful when I heard I was selected as JSOQ and I was really sur-prised when I was selected as JSOY. All the other Sailors who were at the board with me were also well suited for the position for everything that they do both in and outside of the command,” said Miller.

Perhaps one of his most notable characteristics is how much he cares

about the community. Miller volun-teered more than 140 off duty hours over this past year with the Second Class Petty Officer Association, which undoubtedly had a positive effect on the local community.

When asked what he felt propelled him to the front, Miller said, “I’m a part of the Second Class Petty Officer Association and we do a lot for the com-mand and our community. I also happen to be the command GSM in-rate trainer, where my efforts helped four shipmates advance to their next higher pay grade. The fact that I’m also the lead military mechanic in the hydraulics shop also helped as well I’m sure.”

When Miller transfers from IMF he would like to get orders back to his

prior command, Assault Craft Unit 5, as a Landing Craft Air Cushion Engineer or enter into the Littoral Combat Ship community.

Miller has been married to his wife Dannielle for four years and is the father of Mason, his two year old son. On his off time some of his hobbies include elk and deer hunting, water fowl hunting, and mountain biking.

“I would just like to thank my chain of command and the Sailors and civilians in Shop 31F for everything they have done for me,” Said Miller. Congratulations also goes to the other nominees, MM2 Thelma Ruiz, C/810, MM2 Adam Stegall, C/832, ND2 Brian Jessup, C/760, and MT2 Graig Northam.

Page 4 aRMeD FORCeS DaY 2011 MaY, 2011

By FC2 Jared MantoothPSNS & IMF, Public Affairs Office

Congratulations to MM1 Alan Rice on his selection as the Intermediate Maintenance Facility Pacific Northwest Sailor of the Quarter for the third quar-ter and the PSNS&IMF Sailor of the Year for 2010.

Joining the Navy on May 11, 2000, Rice considers it one of the best deci-sions that he has ever made and intends to make a career out of serving in the military. Since arriving at IMF back in Jan. 2009, Rice immediately started showing his leadership potential as a Shop 38C mechanic and soon took the position of Nuclear Refit Coordinator.

However, not satis-fied with this he also took on the position of Production Equipment Maintenance System coordinator, a collat-eral duty on top of his normal duties.

Rice was asked what helped him stand out and said, “I suc-cessfully completed a major nuclear refit as the Nuclear Refit Coordinator for an in-port unit’s Dual Media Discharge. It also helps that I am the only first class in an office of Chiefs working with and performing the same job.” It has been said that you should act the part of the position that you would

like and Rice has taken this advice to heart. He is performing in a station that is beyond the responsibilities of a nor-mal first class petty officer and doing it superbly.

EMC Wayne Parrish, Nuclear Refit Coordinator LCPO, said, “When Petty Officer Rice got to our office he hit the ground running. As a Nuclear Refit Coordinator, he stepped right into a job normally held by a Chief Petty Officer and exceeded all of our expectations. He is a dedicated Sailor who processes information quickly and can rapidly change directions to ensure the job is always progressing. His real asset though is his ability to be comfortable in his surroundings, but never be satisfied with his knowledge or work ethic. He always

strives to be better the next time he does an evolution.”

“It’s a real honor to be selected as the Sailor of the Year and it makes me feel good inside knowing that all the hard work is noticed,” said Rice. “I would like to join the LDO community and I have submitted a package for this year,” he added. “The position of Nuclear Refit Coordinator is giving me valuable experience that I will need to realize my goal,” he concluded.

Rice, and his wife Angelina, have three children and credits his family for inspiring him to drive harder in further-ing his career. In his off time Rice enjoys wood working, playing video games, and spending time with his family.

Rice Selected as PSNS&IMF Sailor of the Year

Rice

Miller Selected as PSNS&IMF Junior Sailor of the Year

Miller

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There are several local organizations that help current and former military members stay connected.

Navy League of the United States, Bremerton-Olympic Peninsula Council For more information visit: http://brem-olympic.nlus.us/.

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association For more information on the local chapter, visit its website, http://www.narfewadist4.org/ch181.html.

Puget Sound Naval Bases Association

For more information, visit the group’s web-site, http://www.psnba.org/.

United States Submarine Veterans Inc. For more information on the group, call (360) 337-2978 or visit its website, http://www.ussvi.org/home.asp.

Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts

• VFW Post 239 Bremerton Post, 190 S Dora Ave., Bremerton.

• VFW Post 3694 McLaughlin Post, 3060 NE McWilliams Road No. 30, Bremerton.

• VFW Post 4492 Henry-Bryner Post, Silverdale.

• American Legion Kean Post 149, 4922 Kitsap Way, Bremerton.

• American Legion Hendrickson Post 68, 1240 Sheridan Road, Bremerton.

Military organizations

Page 5: /Armed_Forces_2011

By Erin JenningsKitsap Navy News

Christopher Cady is adjust-ing to being in the public eye.

“Today I had a guy in the bathroom ask me for my auto-graph,” Cady said. “He said he saw me on TV and that I was becoming quite famous.”

People he doesn’t even know are sending him friend requests on Facebook.

Why all the hullabaloo and sudden recognition? Cady, a single father and petty officer first class who works in the Priority Materials Office at Navy Base Kitsap, has been hounded by news reporters as word spread that he is a finalist for the 2011 Military Fatherhood Award.

Cady is one of three in the final running out of 600.

His son Joshua contracted Cytomegalovirus in utero, and as a result, his brain never fully formed. Doctors believed Joshua would be stillborn.

The ailments Joshua suffers from due to CMV are many and challenging.

Joshua, now 11 years old, is legally blind and deaf, has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. He is confined to a wheelchair, receives all of his nourishment through a feeding tube and has a tracheotomy.

Any one of these would be a hardship, but for Joshua, it is all he’s ever known.

Cady is quick to point out that Joshua is like any typical boy and enjoys roughhous-ing – although, because of

Joshua’s fragile bones, his father has to be extra careful. Too strenuous of play could cause a bone to break.

Joshua is deaf in his left ear, and can hear about 50 per-cent out of his right. Like any preteen, he enjoys listening to music via an ear bud placed in his right ear. And although he is legally blind, doctors believe he can see color and shape, but no detail.

“I pretty much take him with me everywhere I go, and

I don’t treat him any differ-ently than I would a typically developing child,” Cady said.

Father and caregiverCady and his ex-wife

divorced in 2006, and Cady became the custodial parent in 2008. While Joshua’s mom has weekend and summer visits, Cady provides the bulk of his care.

He has a meticulous sup-port system in place for Joshua, including nursing care so Cady can receive a good night’s sleep. When Cady has

to travel for work, Joshua’s mother or nurse step in and take charge.

Cady was nominated for Military Father of the Year by friend Wendy Kruse. When she heard the National Fatherhood Initiative was seeking nominations, Cady immediately popped in her mind.

“His story is so remark-able,” Kruse said, “how he has turned tragedy into triumph is amazing.”

Kruse, who is also a spe-cial needs parent, met Cady through special education programs at the Central Kitsap School District.

Besides working and being Joshua’s primary caregiver, Cady fills his time helping other families in similar situ-ations.

“Being a typical man, I’m a problem solver and obviously a lot of Joshua’s problems, I can’t solve,” Cady said.

Instead, he uses his energy and advocates and helps other special needs families, espe-cially those who are navigat-ing the special needs resources for the first time.

“If I can help guide them through the process and help them solve problems that I’ve already solved, it helps me rejuvenate,” he said.

Jamie Goodman, master chief where Cady works, said when it comes to stressful conditions, it’s impressive how Cady handles them. Under pressure, Cady is graceful and

has an unflappable demeanor. “He will tell you that he’s

learned a lot from his son, like how to stay calm,” Goodman said.

Friend Jessica Huckaby also knows Cady through the Military Special Needs Network. She said the love between father and son is obvious to anyone who sees the pair together.

“Joshua looks towards Chris almost in awe. He’s everything to Joshua,” Huckaby said.

“And Joshua is Chris’s breath of fresh air.”

Friends say that when Cady rubs Joshua’s head, it’s almost as if Joshua melts.

Cady retires from the Navy later this year, and Kruse said she would love to see him end his 20 years of service with the honor of being Military Father of the Year.

“He makes me want to be a better person,” Kruse said. “He’s an inspiration.”

As for Cady, he’s handling

the spotlight with modesty and would rather the focus be on Joshua and his disabilities.

For the first time, father of the year will be decided by votes via online voting.

Cady hopes online voting doesn’t diminish the integrity of the award.

I would rather lose based on the merit and strength of the other applicants, than win the award because it turned into a popularity contest,”he said.

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Navy dad vying for national Military Father of the Year

LS1 Christopher Cady greets his son Joshua as he returns home from school recently. Cady, a procurement specialist, is raising 11-year-old Joshua, who was born with Cytomegalovirus, as a single father in Bremerton. gREg SKINNER/KITSAP NAVY NEWS

Select the winnerVisit www.facebook.com/nationalfather-hoodinitiative to view the three finalists and their videos. During the time period, you are allowed to vote once per day.

Page 6: /Armed_Forces_2011

Page 6 aRMeD FORCeS DaY 2011 MaY, 2011

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Five talented and well-studied Kitsap County stu-dents competed in the 2011 Concurrent Technologies Corporation Armed Forces Festival Ambassadors Program May 4 at the Naval Undersea Museum, situ-ated just outside the gate at Naval Base Kitsap Keyport.

Students competed for nearly $6,000 in scholarship money and were scored on interview skills and their abilities to answer an impromptu question.

The local teenagers were also tested and scored on a speech written based on an interview conducted with a veteran of military service, or someone who is actively serving in the military, or someone who was born in another country and chose to become an American citizen.

In keeping with years of Armed Forces Festival tra-dition, the 2011 Concurrent Technologies Corporation Armed Forces Festival Ambassadors will participate in the 63rd Annual Bremerton Armed Forces Day Parade, the longest running celebration of its kind in the nation, on May 21 along with 150 floats and nearly two dozen marching bands as they course through downtown Bremerton.

The standout group of local high school seniors will also appear at a host of other Armed Forces Festival activities held throughout the week.

They will also represent the community at Port Orchard’s Fathoms of Fun parade and Silverdale’s Whaling Days parade.

Five local scholars earn $5,950 in AFF scholarshipsMari Cleven of SeabeCkSenior at Klahowya Secondary School

Daughter of Lisa Da Silvia and Gregory Cleven

Sponsored by Bremerton-Olympic Peninsula Navy League Council

$2000 scholarship provided by First Command Financial Services Educational Foundation

$100 prize for Best Essay

First PlAceCaSey burt of breMertonSenior at Bremerton High School

Daughter of Donna and Earl Burt

Sponsored by Bremerton Health & Rehabilitation Center

$1500 scholarship provided by First Command Financial Services Educational Foundation & Land Title of Kitsap County

$100 prize for most tickets redeemed at the event.

secOND PlAceelaine Corpuz of port orChardSenior at South Kitsap High School

Daughter of Mila and Nolan Corpuz

Sponsored by Kitsap Bank

$1000 scholarship provided by the Herbert Goodman Scholarship Trust.

tHirD PlAcedaniel Sullivan of breMertonSenior at Olympic High School

Son of Kelly and James Sullivan

Sponsored by Kitsap Credit Union

$750 scholarship provided by Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home

FOUrtH PlAceJodi bowe of port orChardSenior at South Kitsap High School

Daughter of Lori and Troy Bowe

Sponsored by Naval Civilian Managers at PSNS & IMF

$500 scholarship provided by Land Title of Kitsap County and Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home

FiFtH PlAce

Page 7: /Armed_Forces_2011

MAY, 2011 ARMED FORCES DAY 2011 PAgE 7

Saturday, May 14

8:30 a.m. The Brothers Powersports “Brand be Damned” Motorcycle Poker Run at 5205 1st Street

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Wells Fargo Military Culinary Arts Competition at Olympic College Bremerton Student Center at 16th & Chester Free admission!

tueSday, May 17

11:30 a.m. “Armed Forces Festival Luncheon Tucker’s at Gold Mountain. Speaker: TBA $18 before May 10 deadline—$22 after May 10

thurSday, May 19

6:00 p.m. Navy League Senior Enlisted Party at Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort

Friday, May 20

7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. the 20th Annual Pepsi / Armed Forces Festival Golf Tournament at Gold Mountain Golf Complex. Two shotgun starts 7:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., $400 per foursome half price for uniformed personnel

arMed ForceS daySaturday,

May 216:30 a.m. Ebenezer A.M.E. Church 5K Run at 4th Street & Warren Avenue

7:00 to 10:00 a.m. Bremerton Central Lions Club Pancake Breakfast at 4th Street between Pacific and Washington. Masonic Lodge Pancake Breakfast at 5th & Warren.

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Kitsap County Historical Museum at 280 4th Street in the USS Turner Joy – adjacent to the Louis Mentor Boardwalk.

10:00 a.m. Bremerton’s 63rd Armed Forces Day Parade, downtown Bremerton America’s largest and longest-running Armed Forces Day Parade!

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Puget Sound Energy Heroes Barbecue at Pacific Avenue between Fourth and Burwell. Military personnel, dependents, veterans and their families eat for free!

6:00 p.m. Navy League Dinner & Reception Admiral Theatre.

Keynote: TBA.Entertainment: TBA

Saturday & Sunday, May 21 & 22

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Malibu Corporation & American Power Boat Association Kitsap Hydrofest Power Boat Races on Kitsap Lake

2011 armed Forces day schedule of events

Kitsap Navy News

The Annual golf tournament that goes with each year’s Armed Forces Festival reaches its 20 year milestone with this year’s tournament at the Gold Mountain Golf Complex’s award winning course and facility.

Costs for this year’s tournament are: $400 for a foursome, including greens fees, cart; a putting contest for a chance at $5,000, lunch; and a chance to win a $10000 Pebble Beach Golf Vacation in the hole-in-one contest.

The top military team will win special prizes in addition to being eligible for priz-es in the main tournament. In its third year at this event is the Annual Commander’s

Cup, a traveling trophy awarded to the command with the lowest combined score. This special event is sponsored by the Haselwood Auto Group.

The tournament wraps up with an awards banquet. The event is sponsored by Bremerton Pepsi Co, Bremerton & Forest Ridge Health & Rehabilitation Centers, Harrison Medical Center, Land Title of Kitsap County and Paratrasnit.

This tournament usually sells out so early reservations are recommended. Applications for the event are available online at www.bremertonchamber.org/ArmedForcesFestival.php or contact the Bremerton Chamber at (360) 479-3579 or [email protected] for res-ervations and information.

AFF Golf Tournament reaches 20 years

Page 8: /Armed_Forces_2011

Page 8 aRMeD FORCeS DaY 2011 MaY, 2011

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Page 9: /Armed_Forces_2011

MAY, 2011 ARMED FORCES DAY 2011 PAgE 9

By GREG SKINNERKitsap Navy News

When Lynette George set out to honor hers sons’ service in the War on Terror in 2004 she had no idea that her pursuit would grow into a non-profit organization to do the same for hundreds of West Sound families.

Today, both of her sons, one a Marine the other Army, are done with multiple tours and out of the military. George, a Seabeck resident, has seen to the raising of nearly 200 six-foot banners honoring individuals for their service in the five branches of the military.

In April, Kitsap Community Organization awarded a $2,500 grant to Blue Star to help the non-profit keep on its mission.

This year’s award put KCO atop the list of sponsors in Bremerton, Silverdale, Poulsbo and many other West Sound communities.

George put up her first banner in 2007, the years after starting.

The banners increase aware-ness of the numbers of men and women in uniform.

In one case the banner serves as more than a marker of sig-nificance; a local woman drives by her son’s banner just to talk to him while he is away, George said.

“I’m serving the [service] members and their families,” George said. “I wanted this to bring the community together.”

George, a former sailor and current Navy pay clerk, now works 20 hours per week on the banners project that has grown into a non-profit organization to insure banners are up and stay up.

She recently hired a person to market sponsorships in effort to increase the numbers of banners and their illustration of service.

“The program has taken off

itself,” George said.Kitsap Community Foundation

Executive Director Pete Atha said the awarded grants all go to fund programs that improve the Kitsap community in some way.

It’s a positive opportunity for families with wives, sons, fathers,

daughters or husbands in the military, Atha said. “It helps deal with the fact that the loved one is not at home.”

Today, local retailers, a fire-fighters union, a Montessori school and a motorcycle club are on the donor list with 100 other

families and service organiza-tions.

About a dozen service mem-ber’s names entered into the sys-tem await sponsorship.

Don Bassler, of US Submarine Veterans Bremerton Base, said one of the members recommend-ed the group sponsor a banner for the one member who is active.

Bassler said that most of the submarine veterans are retired or otherwise removed from active service – Electronic Technician 1 John Perkins, he said, is the exceptional dolphin.

At $350 each, banners are built to last three-to-five years and can take winds up to 90 mph. They stay up until the person leaves their branch of service.

Long term, George would like the program to continue as long as men and women serve the country in places far from home and in hostile zones.

The program, she said, is not just about war, it’s about the everyday general sacrifice made by men and women serving the nation.

“I just want America to see the sacrifice,” George said.

Blue Star Banners are still waving

Hang banners proudFor more information on the Blue Star Banner Program, see www.bluestarbanner.org, 360-440-6497, private or business sponsorships are available at $350 per banner

Lynette George holds just one of the hundreds of Blue Star Banners that have flown across Kitsap County in recent years. KNN/FILE PHOTO

Page 10: /Armed_Forces_2011

By LYNSI BURTONKitsap Navy News

When Fred Sheffler was touring the McNeil Island Corrections Center during a business trip

12 years ago, an inmate asked to speak with him.

Sheffler didn’t recognize him at the time, but after talking, he realized they’d served in the Army together in Vietnam.

Then the inmate told him something he’d never forget.

“He said, ‘Sir, if I had a job when I came back, I don’t think I’d be here,’” Sheffler said.

That moment was a turning point in Sheffler’s life that compelled him to join veteran service organizations such as the American Legion. Now, he chairs the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board, a county committee that advises the Board of Commissioners on issues related to homeless and low-income veterans and the use of the county Veterans Assistance Fund.

“You have a civilian society that doesn’t have any clue as to what they’ve gone through,” Sheffler said.

Now Sheffler is concerned history may repeat itself. In the years following Vietnam – like now – he saw many returning service-members without the support to begin their lives anew.

The past few years have seen an increase in assistance given to Kitsap veterans to meet rising demand. The number of veter-ans receiving help with rent, bills and other services has increased from 160 in 2004 to 370 in 2010.

But Sheffler says the advisory board and the assistance fund have limits on how much they can help indigent veterans. And if the fund’s income doesn’t increase in 2012, it may have to reduce the assistance it can offer.

Because homeless veteran counts are self-reported, there is no way of knowing exactly how many veterans in the county need assis-tance. Leif Bentsen, human services planner for the Kitsap County Veterans Assistance Program, said that out of approximately 1,500 homeless people in Kitsap County, about 87 of them are veterans.

Coupled with the number of low-income veterans struggling to pay living expenses in a down economy, demand for the assistance fund’s services is expected to rise.

The Veterans Assistance Fund started in 1888 by the territorial government created has been around since 1888, with the money allocated by service groups such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In 2006, the current Veterans Advisory Board was established to advise county com-missioners on veterans’ issues and uses of the money. The fund is paid for by property taxes – one and one-eighth cents of every $1,000 of assessed value goes to the fund.

The fund has helped pay for programs benefiting homeless and low-income veter-ans, such as the Stand Down events at the

Kitsap County Fairgrounds that provide dental care, hair cuts and social services information to attendees.

The money has also helped veterans attend the Washington Community Alliance for Self-Help program, which trains people to own and manage their own businesses.

Most of its budget, however, goes to Kitsap Community Resources, which con-tracts with the county to provide individual case management to veterans seeking finan-cial assistance with living expenses.

People making less than $2,100 per month can qualify for such help, said Gary Hughes, the family development specialist at Kitsap Community Resources who evaluates incoming veterans.

And regardless of whether people qualify for veterans assistance, Hughes refers them to additional programs they may be eligible for, such as Kitsap Community Resources’ energy program or American Financial Solutions for mortgage help.

In addition to the $332,700 in help veter-ans received from the Veterans Assistance Fund, they may also be eligible for other social programs, Bentsen said.

What makes veterans especially vulner-able to joblessness, homelessness or other struggles, Sheffler said, is that society does not understand the experiences they face in combat and veterans have trouble assimilat-ing into the civilian world when they come home.

“The reality is they’ve got to come to grips with a lot of things our society hasn’t pre-pared them for,” he said.

“They cannot reintegrate into society. They’ve gone through experiences that do not make them candidates for going back into normal life.”

Not a quick fixThe Veterans Assistance Fund isn’t nec-

essarily a quick fix for veterans looking to escape a financial bind, but rather a last resort, Sheffler said.

“It’s a stop gap. It’s not a solution,” he said, adding that people who seek help from the fund have typically reached “rock bottom” in their personal lives.

Though he feels the fund and Kitsap Community Resources help give veterans a step up, Sheffler wishes there was more they could do, such as help provide work oppor-tunities or job training.

But, due to legal restrictions on how the money is spent, only so much can be done.

State law only allows the Veterans Assistance Fund to help indigent veterans, making it difficult for the money to go to related groups that serve veterans as well as other disadvantaged populations.

That restriction frustrates Dennis Olds, who has appealed to the Veterans Advisory Board for money for the Veterans Bunkhouse, which houses homeless vet-erans, that he opened in Bremerton last month.

Though Kitsap Community Resources provided $1,200 of rent for two residents to move into the Bunkhouse last week, the advisory board is still considering whether

the Bunkhouse, as a non-profit organization and not an individual veteran, could qualify for assistance.

Olds, who lives on disability money, has paid $11,000 of the Veterans Bunkhouse’s

expenses out-of-pocket and worries about the long-term existence of the shelter pro-gram.

“The people are still out there living on the street because I’ve got no way to pay the people I’ve got to pay,” Olds said of his struggle to pay the Bunkhouse’s bills.

Assistance may also be reduced, depend-ing on next year’s budget. Though the assis-tance fund’s 2012 budget is not yet finalized, Bentsen foresees reducing the amount of assistance the fund can use to help each veteran, given that property tax income is projected to remain flat and demand is expected to increase.

The number of Stand Down events have already been reduced this year.

While $330,000 is budgeted for assistance through Kitsap Community Resources this year, that money is projected to drop to $265,000 in 2012, according to a February report on the Veterans Assistance Fund.

“If we can’t meet the demand, there’s going to be a detriment,” Bentsen said.

Though Sheffler acknowledged the posi-tive contributions of the Veterans Assistance Fund, he wishes such services weren’t needed at all.

“My greatest disappointment is to see someone come in because we’re their last hope,” he said. “I’m proud that we can do it, but there’s got to be more out in front of this.”

Giving hope to Kitsap’s indigent vetsPage 10 aRMeD FORCeS DaY 2011 MaY, 2011

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WE WELCOME ALL MILITARY FAMILIES!

Vietnam veteran Fred Sheffler of Bainbridge Island advocates for local indigent veterans with the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board. gReg SKINNeR/KITSaP NaVY NeWS

Page 11: /Armed_Forces_2011

YOU’VE GOT OUR BACK AND NOW WE’VE GOT YOURS!

VICTORY HONORS AMERICAS ARMED FORCESWITH AN ADDITIONAL

$1000 CASH BACKON THE PURCHASE OF ANY VICTORY MODEL

FULL THROTTLE SALUTE.

Customer Name:

Dealer Name:

Dealer Number:

VIN #

DATE OF PROGRAM: JAN. 1 - MARCH 31, 2011 COUPON CODE: MILT-VM-469DEALER INSTRUCTIONS: To qualify, necessary information must be postmarked by April 15, 2011. Dealer must complete the following to redeem this coupon for credit on your Victory parts account. Send this coupon attached to the original sales slip, as well as a copy of the purchaser military ID to Polaris Rebates, 2100 Hwy 55, Medina, MN 55340.RESTRICTIONS: *$1000 USD or $1000 CND savings redeemable with proof of valid U.S. Military or Canadian Armed Forces ID. Coupon is not redeemable for cash. Military coupon can be combined with current promotions, but not with any other coupons. Limit one coupon per customer. Offer is valid on full line of Victory Motorcycles. The program is available to all active, reserve, National Guard, and retired military personnel. Victory® and Victory Motorcycles® are registered trademarks of Polaris Industries Inc. Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing and obey the speed limit. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol. ©2011 Polaris Industries Inc.

YOU’VE GOT OUR BACK AND NOW WE’VE GOT YOURS!

VICTORY HONORS AMERICAS ARMED FORCESWITH AN ADDITIONAL

$1000 CASH BACKON THE PURCHASE OF ANY VICTORY MODEL

FULL THROTTLE SALUTE.

Customer Name:

Dealer Name:

Dealer Number:

VIN #

DATE OF PROGRAM: JAN. 1 - MARCH 31, 2011 COUPON CODE: MILT-VM-469DEALER INSTRUCTIONS: To qualify, necessary information must be postmarked by April 15, 2011. Dealer must complete the following to redeem this coupon for credit on your Victory parts account. Send this coupon attached to the original sales slip, as well as a copy of the purchaser military ID to Polaris Rebates, 2100 Hwy 55, Medina, MN 55340.RESTRICTIONS: *$1000 USD or $1000 CND savings redeemable with proof of valid U.S. Military or Canadian Armed Forces ID. Coupon is not redeemable for cash. Military coupon can be combined with current promotions, but not with any other coupons. Limit one coupon per customer. Offer is valid on full line of Victory Motorcycles. The program is available to all active, reserve, National Guard, and retired military personnel. Victory® and Victory Motorcycles® are registered trademarks of Polaris Industries Inc. Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing and obey the speed limit. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol. ©2011 Polaris Industries Inc.

RESTRICTIONS: *$1000 USD or $1000 CND savings redeemable with proof of valid U.S. Military or Canadian Armed Forces ID. Coupon is not redeemable for cash. Military coupon can be combined with current promotions, but not with any other coupons. Limit one coupon per customer. Offer is valid on full line of Victory Motorcycles. The program is available to all active, reserve, National Guard, and retired military personnel. Victory® and Victory Motorcycles® are registered trademarks of Polaris Industries Inc. Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing and obey the speed limit. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol. ©2011 Polaris Industries Inc.

1200 Charleston Beach Road, Hwy 304, Bremerton, WA 98312PHONE 360.377.5568 WEB Cliffscyclecenter.com

HOURS Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm Family owned and operated Since 1967. Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm Family owned and operated Since 1967.

DATE OF PROGRAM: APRIL 1 - JUNE 30, 2011COUP

ON C

ODE:

MILT

-VM

-469

MAY, 2011 ARMED FORCES DAY 2011 PAgE 11

Bremerton Area Chamber of Commerce proudly presents the

62nd Annual Armed Forces Festival

May 15-16, 2010

Dignity Memorial Armed Forces Day Parade

10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 15, 2010 Downtown Bremerton

Parade Route 1— Parade Staging Area 2— Post-Parade Heroes Barbecue (free!)3— Fairfield Inn & Suites VIP Reception and vehicle load point. 4— Entrance to Parking Garage. 5— Military Culinary Arts Competition at Olympic College (Bremer Student Center)

21 Fairfield InnFairfield InnFairfield Inn

VIP ReceptionVIP ReceptionVIP Reception239 Fourth St.239 Fourth St.239 Fourth St.

34

Olympic Olympic Olympic CollegeCollegeCollege

5

Parade Route

Page 12: /Armed_Forces_2011

PAGE 12 ARMED FORCES DAY 2011 MAY, 2011

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