Military Appreciation Day March 28, 2015 11 AM - 4 PM | kitsap county fairgrounds at THE pavilion
Welcome to Kitsap Military Appreciation Day 2015 Community comes together to say ‘thanks’ to active military, their families and veterans for all they do
11 a.m. Naval Base Kitsap Color Guard will present the colors; Pledge of Allegiance 11:15 a.m. Singing of the National Anthem led by Navy Band Northwest 11:20 a.m. Greetings from Angela Sell of the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce
By LESLIE Kelly
lkelly@soundpublishing.com
11:30 a.m. Introduction of dignitaries by Angela Sell
W
elcome to Military Appreciation Day 2015! For more than 11 years, Kitsap County has celebrated the military’s presence in our local communities. Kitsap County is the home of several military installations under the Navy Region Northwest designation. According to the Navy Region NW Public Affairs Office, there are 25,000 active duty personnel, 6,000 reservists and 35,000 retirees in the Kitsap area. This is in addition to the more than 50,000 military family members that live and work in the area, including the newest from the USS Nimitz, which is now at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for maintenance. The service men and women live and work and take part in community life here. Their children attend local schools. The contribution that they make to our local economy is substantial. Military Appreciation Day 2015 is Saturday, March 28, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Kitsap County Fairgrounds’ Kitsap Pavilion. The event is free and open to the public. Military Appreciation Day is fun and educational for all who attend. Local businesses and those that serve the military have generously provided free and discounted items for our local service men and women. More than 100 commercial booths are reserved in the Kitsap Pavilion that day to provide a huge “thank you” to our military members. Every booth will donate prizes; winners will be announced throughout the day from the main stage area. Prizes will be given to local active duty personnel, reservists and retirees
KITSAP COUNTY MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
11:35 a.m. Remarks by Kitsap County Commissioner Ed Wolfe 11:40 a.m. Mayor Patty Lent greets the military
Sailors aboard the USS John C. Stennis perform practice fire drills. The Stennis is homeported in Bremerton and expects to deploy in May. Contributed photo (you must show your military identification in order to claim your prize). There also will be free food and nonalcoholic beverages from vendors such as the USO Mobile Canteen, McClouds Bar and others. Activities and events will appeal to the entire family. The doors of the Kitsap Pavilion will open at 11 a.m. Door prizes will be awarded beginning at 12:15 p.m. The Marine Corps Color Guard will present the flags of the Marines, Navy, Army, Coast Guard and Air Force. The event will feature remarks by Kitsap County Commissioner Ed Wolfe; U.S. Congressman Derek Kilmer; Capt. John Ring, commander of the USS Nimitz; and Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent. Special guest: Capt. Thomas A. Zwolfer, commanding officer of Naval Base Kitsap. Entertainment will appeal to all ages, with performances by Galletta School of Dance, Olympic Gymnastic Center students, Okinawan Karate Black Belt Academy students, and dancers from Irene’s School of Dance. Military Appreciation Day always features fun kid-specific activities. This year
there will be a bounce house, a showand-tell game, military vehicles, a U.S. Coast Guard boat, weapons displays by the Marines, as well as visits from McGruff the Crime Dog and Central Kitsap Fire Department’s mascot, Sparky the Fire Dog. A mini boot camp will be set up for the children so that they can get a feel for the training exercises the Marines conduct while on a military installation. Face painting will be available for the children, including special camo paint. This annual event is organized by the Military Affairs Committee of the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce and made possible by the donations of time and prizes from local merchants and Kitsap community members, including the following businesses: Shane McGraw Mortgage Lending Team, First Command Financial, Liberty Bay Auto, Dentistry for Children in Bremerton, Olympic College, MillerWoodlawn Funeral Home, American Financial Solutions, Kitsap Credit Union, The Point Casino, Air Masters Heating, Western Washington University, Sound Publishing, and Stars & Stripes.
11:45 a.m. Remarks by Capt. John Ring, commander of the USS Nimitz 11:50 a.m. U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer presents Service Member of the Year awards to each branch of the military represented at the event Noon to 12:15 p.m. Continuation of awards ceremony Entertainment will begin at 1 p.m. on the Center Stage 1:15 p.m. Galetta School of Dance dancers will perform 1:50 p.m. Olympic Gymnastic Center students will perform 2:25 p.m. Okinawan Karate Black Belt Academy students will perform 3 p.m. Dancers from Irene’s School of Dance will perform
A supplement of the Bainbridge ISLAND Review, BREMERTON PATRIOT, Central Kitsap Reporter, North Kitsap Herald, AND Port Orchard Independent