PATRIOT BREMERTON
KITSAP WEEKLY INSIDE: Brownsville Marina: Champagne lifestyle on a beer budget
FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2016 | Vol. 18, No. 45 | WWW.BREMERTONPATRIOT.COM | 50¢
IN THIS EDITION
NEWS USS John C. Stennis sets sail
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NEWS BB gun used in Bremerton robbery
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NEWS Big jump in 2015 ferry ridership
Pearl Harbor survivor passes away STAFF REPORT
BREMERTON — Major Maynard “Rocky” Hoffmann, former Marine and Pearl Harbor survivor, passed away at age 97 on Jan. 8. The following is an article that ran in a 2012 edition of Veteran’s Life that honored Maj. Hoffmann: Born in Seattle in 1918, Maj. Hoffmann enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve while a student at Roosevelt High School in Seattle. He applied for active duty in 1940. “I looked forward to going to boot camp. I didn’t want to be drafted into the Army and that’s what they were doing at the time.”
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SEE HOFFMANN, A6
Pete O’Cain / staff photo
Major Rocky Hoffmann at a 2015 Pearl Harbor Rememberance.
Former Seattle mayor speaks at MLK celebration BY CHRIS TUCKER CTUCKER@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
BREMERTON — Hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. during the 22nd annual Kitsap County MLK celebration Jan. 18. Norman Rice, the only African American to be elected mayor of Seattle, was keynote speaker. Rice was mayor two terms from 1989-1997. “What’s the most persistent and urgent question?” Rice asked. “What are we doing for others?” The key, he said, was to pull up others in need, “into the light.” “All of us has that responsibility to do that. And if we don’t do that, we are failing not only King but ourselves.” “(King) said there is no easy way to create a world where man and woman can live together, where each has his own job and house and where all children receive as much education as their minds can absorb. But if such a world is created in our lifetime, it will be done in the United States
by black folks and white folks of good will. It will be accomplished by persons who have the courage to put an end to suffering on others. It will be done by rejecting the racism, materialism and violence that has characterized western civilization. And especially by working toward a world of brotherhood, cooperation and peace.” Rice said it was difficult to serve as an elected official in the world today “because common sense and reason is not always what everybody wants. We want righteous indignation. Sometimes indignation is important, but it’s not always right.” The MLK Community Choir sings during the celebration Jan. 18. Instead of waiting for a charismatic leader to show Shannon Turner also spoke at me realize that, as a proud the way, Rice said, it was up the event. He plans on finish- black man and a father, that it to each person to take steps ing his associates degree in the was up to me to complete my forward. summer, and will then work dream so that I could show my “Each one of you needs to on his bachelors. His message: children and my community define that thing you can do That education was the key to that quitting is not an option.” well for others … the journey “completing” King’s dream. “As Americans, education starts with one step. Today is Turner recalled a visit to the is one of our keys to reach that your step for that march, for Lincoln Memorial in Wash- goal of completion. It gives that degree, for that … oppor- ington D.C. us that power to go out and tunity that makes a difference.” “It empowered me. It made change the world. It makes Olympic College student
Chris Tucker / staff photo
others recognize that as Americans we will continue to strive and make this a better nation.” “By educating ourselves we give ourselves the power to go out and move mountains, to become CEOs, professors, senators and even president of the United States. Education is knowledge. Knowledge is power.”
Awards honor African American leaders
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OPINION Vote ‘yes’ on BSD capital projects levy
Hoffmann was a 23-year-old sergeant when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Hoffmann was stationed at the Ewa Marine Corps Air Station which is now known as Barbers Point Naval Air Station. Three miles from Pearl Harbor, Ewa Marine Corps Air Station was completed in early 1941. When the attack at Pearl Harbor occurred, four runways had been constructed, in addition to buildings and hangars. Ewa was the first American installation hit during the Pearl Harbor attack. Hoffmann closed his eyes, recalling the moment. “It took us all by total surprise. It took several minutes
BY MICHELLE BEAHM MBEAHM@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
Courtesy photo
Attendees at a previous African American Achievement Awards ceremony.
BREMERTON — The fifth annual Washington State African American Achievement Awards ceremony will be held 6 p.m. (4 p.m. for dinner) Jan. 30 at the Bremerton Performing Arts Center, 1500 13th St. The awards were started five years
ago by Deborah Moore Jackson, and it has grown every year since. “I started this at Bremerton High School, because we didn’t have any black history classes,” Moore Jackson said. “Our children needed to understand that African Americans, people that look like them, have been doing (good things) for a long time.” According to Eastern Regional
Director Francelle Daubert, every year there’s a theme for choosing the honorees. This year’s theme is “Beyond the Pulpit,” to honor church leaders who have “gone beyond the church” to help improve their communities. Past years’ themes have included teachers of the year, founders (of businesses, nonprofits and more) and SEE AWARDS, A60
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