Patriot Bremerton
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 | Vol. 16, No. 32 www.bremertonpatriot.com | 50¢
Remembering the fallen ones By Seraine Page spage@soundpublishing.com
On a balmy Sept. 11 evening, thousands gathered at Evergreen Rotary Park to remember the deceased and to watch the unveiling of the Kitsap 9/11 Memorial set high on a hill next to the Washington Narrows waterway on Wednesday. It was a perfectly clear, blue sky on Sept. 11, 2013, just as it was on the very day terrorists attacked the United States in 2001. It was the kind of day appropriate to dedicate and honor those who perished in four various locations on that September day. Before presenters worked their way to the lectern set just down the hill from the memorial, Alan Jackson’s “Where Were you When the World Stopped Turning” song resounded across the park from loudspeakers, offering vivid details of the 2001 day. Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day? Were you in the yard with your wife and children Or working on some stage in L.A.? Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke Risin’ against that blue sky? Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor Or did you just sit down and cry? Some cried. Some closed their eyes. Others stood still, listening to the words of the song. Kenneth King came to the park to remember with fellow vets and community leaders, members and residents. “It was an attack on our nation and our pride. War isn’t necessarily across the water,” the Vietnam vet said. King looked several times to the memorial up on the hill prior to the start of the event.
Classy Classifieds Look for the expanded classified ads in Kitsap Week
Bremerton out of compliance with federal law for second straight year By KEVAN MOOORE kmoore@soundpublishing.com
The City of Bremerton is set to be slapped with two findings by the Washington State Auditor’s Office. For the second year in a row, the city failed to comply with the DavisBacon Act, a federal law designed to ensure laborers are paid prevailing wages while working on public projects. In addition, state auditors found that the city’s Community Development Block Grant Program program was not administered properly. Specifically, four of the seven loans that auditors looked at no longer qualified to
be deferred and the city should have collected $23,120. Those loans included two to a borrower who passed away in 1997 and one involving a home that was sold in 2008. “The city was still reporting a CDBG loan for $17,610 as outstanding at the end of 2012, even though it was paid in full in 2002,” a draft audit report states. The final report from the state’s latest audit of Bremerton is slated to be released Sept. 23. A draft report was provided to members of the city council’s Public Safety and Parks Committee following an See COMPLIANCE, A13
Port commissioners ask for vehicle audit these vehicles for? And how many do we have? I just lkelly@soundpublishing.com don’t know that we’re using A minivan, a small pick- all of them.” up truck and another larger Stokes followed up his pickup truck with snow comment by asking why the plow. port needs another snow That’s what was on the plow. list of needed “How many do capital projects we have now, and when the Port of how many times Bremerton coma year do we use mission began them,” he quesits 2014 budget tioned the staff. discussions this Facilities week. Maintenance And that’s what Larry Stokes Manager Lamarr prompted comWright told the missioners to request an commissioners that the inventory of all the vehicles port currently has three the port owns. trucks with snow plows “Whenever I go down to that can be used for removthe marina in Port Orchard, ing snow from roads and I see five or six port vehi- runways. He said it varied cles just sitting there,” said from year to year how many commissioner Larry Stokes. “What are we using all of See PORT, A13 By Leslie Kelly
Seraine Page /staff photo
Members of the Combat Veterans Association stand at the Kitsap 9/11 Memorial in Evergreen Rotary Park prior to its formal dedication last week. “It’s hard to see bent up pieces of metal. There’s a toll of human life that went with that twisted steel,” he said. “We’re here. Three thousand people are not.” Corrine Beach, secretary of the Kitsap 9/11 Memorial Committee, introduced speakers to the audience, and thanked the group for “coming out on this beautiful Sept. 11 day.” It’s been a long road. We’re so thankful for this
community that’s gotten us here,” she said. Audience members listened intently in the sweltering heat to a variety of speakers, including committee members, Stennis Capt. Michael Wettlaufer, the mayor and designer and lead architect Dave Fergus. Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent announced the official transfer of the steel beams ownership from Central
Kitsap Fire & Rescue to the city of Bremerton from the New York/New Jersey Port Authority. That evening, VFW Post No. 239 voted on upkeeping the memorial. Lent called the post “stewards” of the memorial who will take care of the memorial for “eternity” for generations to come to enjoy. Lent mentioned that See MEMORIAL, A13