By SOPHIE BONOMIVeterans Life

POULSBO –– As Santa preps the reindeer and packs the sleigh at the North Pole, Marines are working just as hard in Kitsap County, collect-

ing toys to distribute as Christmas presents to less- fortunate children in the community through Toys for Tots.

Serving in Kitsap County for 33 years, Toys for Tots’ mission has been to deliver

a new toy at Christmas — and a message of hope to less-fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive and patriotic citizens.

A typo in an advertisement led to a new type of service for NORAD

Improving access to mental health care 5

Opinion 4-5Features 8-9Resources 10-12

Marines talk about why they love the Corps8

Tracking Santa for 60 yearsIN THIS EDITION

T he North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Air

Force Base, Colorado is celebrat-ing its 60th anniversary of tracking Santa’s yuletide journey.

The “NORAD Tracks Santa” website, www.noradsanta.org, which launched Dec 1, features Santa’s North Pole Village, which includes a holiday countdown, games, activities, and more. The website is available in eight lan-

guages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Chinese.

Official NORAD Tracks Santa apps are also available in the Windows, Apple and Google Play stores, so parents and children can count down the days until Santa’s launch on their smart phones and tablets. Tracking opportunities are also offered on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+. Santa fol-lowers just need to type “@norad-

santa” into each search engine to get started.

Also new this year, the website features the NORAD Headquarters in the North Pole Village, and highlights of the pro-gram over the past 60 years.

Starting at 12:01 a.m. MST on Dec. 24, website visitors can watch Santa make preparations for his flight. NORAD’s “Santa Cams” will stream videos on the website as Santa makes his way

over various locations. Then, at 4 a.m. MST, trackers worldwide can speak with a live phone operator to inquire as to Santa’s whereabouts by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or by sending an email to noradtrackssanta@outlook.com.

Any time on Dec. 24, Windows Phone users can ask Cortana for Santa’s location, and OnStar

See NORAD, Page 2

See TOYS FOR TOTS, Page 3

Marines package love and hope through local Toys for Tots campaign

LifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransVeteransThe Voice for Kitsap County’s Veterans, Active-Duty Personnel, and their Families

KitsapVeteransLife.com December 2015

Col. Harry Shoup, operations officer at NORAD on Dec. 24, 1955, answered a child’s wrong-number call and began the tradition of NORAD tracking Santa. Shoup died March 14, 2009, yet the tradition he started decades ago continues to bring holi-day cheer to millions of children around the world.

NORAD / Courtesy photo

A Toys for Tots toy drive is scheduled 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the Poulsbo Walmart. Marine Corps Association / Courtesy

2 I VETERANS LIFE | DECEMBER 2015 DECEMBER, @

subscribers can press the OnStar button in their vehicles to locate Santa.

How it startedThe tradition began

in 1955 after a Colorado Springs, Colorado-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement advised children to call Santa but misprinted the telephone number.

Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put children through to the operations hotline at the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) in Colorado Springs.

The director of opera-tions at the time was Col. Harry Shoup, USAF.

“This was the ’50s, this was the Cold War, and he would have been the first one to know if there was an attack on the United States,” Col. Shoup’s son, Rick, told StoryCorps, a national nonprofit that is recording stories for the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

The red phone rang and “then there was a small voice that just asked, ‘Is this Santa Claus?,’” Col. Shoup’s daughter, Pam Farrell, told StoryCorps.

The colonel was straight-laced and disciplined and was annoyed by the call, thinking it was a joke, StoryCorps reported. But then, the little voice started crying.

“And Dad realized that it wasn’t a joke,” Terri Van Keuren, a daughter of Col. Shoup, told StoryCorps. “So he talked to him, ho-ho-ho’d and asked if he had been a good boy and, ‘May I talk to your moth-

er?’ And the mother got on and said, ‘You haven’t seen the paper yet? There’s a phone number to call Santa. It’s in the Sears ad.’ Dad looked it up, and there it was, his red phone num-ber. And they had children calling one after another, so he put a couple of air-men on the phones to act like Santa Claus.”

She told StoryCorps, “It got to be a big joke at the command center. You know, ‘The old man’s really flipped his lid this time. We’re answering Santa calls.’”

An annual holiday tradi-tion was born.

In 1958, the govern-ments of Canada and the United States created a binational air defense com-mand for North America called the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD, which then took on the tradition of tracking Santa.

Since that time, the men and women of NORAD and their family and friends have volunteered their time to personally respond to Christmas Eve phone calls and emails from chil-dren. In addition, NORAD now tracks Santa using the Internet.

Last year, millions of people who wanted to know Santa’s whereabouts visited the NORAD Tracks Santa website.

“I have the greatest admiration for Col. Shoup and found delight in his remarkable humor with taking the first-ever call regarding Santa’s where-abouts back in 1955,” Gen. Victor E. Renaurt Jr., USAF (ret.), said on the NORAD website.

Renaurt is a former com-mander of NORAD.

“[Col. Shoup’s] kind and thoughtful gesture will forever be a legacy at NORAD, and with the millions of people around the world who follow the NORAD Tracks Santa program each year. Truly, forever in the minds of millions, he will be fondly remembered as the ‘Santa Colonel’ and his legend will live on forever.”

Program contributorsNORAD credits the

following contributors with helping to make the NORAD Tracks Santa pro-gram possible.

This year’s contributors include:

n The 21st Space Wingn 140th Wingn Acuity Schedulingn Alaska NORAD Regionn America Forces

Network (AFN)n Analytical Graphics,

Inc.n Avayan BeMerry! Santa /

Noerr Programsn Bing®n Canadian NORAD

Regionn Chirponn The Citadel Malln Civil Air Patroln Christmas in the Parkn Colorado Springs

Business Alliancen Continental NORAD

Regionn CradlePointn Defense Video &

Imagery Distribution Systems

n DoD Newsn The Elf on the Shelfn Extended Stay

American Federal Aviation

Administrationn Getty Imagesn Globelink Foreign

Language Centern Harris

NORADContinued from page 1

See NORAD, Page 3

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John L. Scott Real Estate has 122 offices,some offices are independently owned and operated.

Bainbridge Island | Jamie Jensen, Managing Broker �������������������������� (206) 842-5636Kingston | Frank Wilson, Managing Broker �������������������������������������������������� (360) 297-7500Poulsbo | Frank Wilson, Managing Broker ��������������������������������������������������� (360) 779-7555Port Orchard | Jacqui Curtiss, Managing Broker ������������������������������������ (360) 876-7600Silverdale | Lee Avery, Managing Broker �������������������������������������������� (360) 692-9777Bremerton | Lee Avery, Managing Broker ������������������������������������������ (360) 377-0046

NORTH KITSAPPOULSBO $159,900A nice double-wide MFH on 2+ acres located on Big Valley Road. This home features 1344 sqft, 2 bedrooms with a 3 bedroom septic design. Pat Osler 360-271-0579View at www.johnlscott.com/63884

NORTH KITSAP $279,000Welcome to Caldart Hts. Spacious town home living, approx. 1846 sq./ft., 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 5-piece mstr. bath, w/walk-in closet, and more. Tommy Jones 360-731-9685View at www.johnlscott.com/74270

POULSBO $349,999Private home situated on just shy of an acre that features 1756 sqft, 3+bdrms & a large kitchen. Huge deck & a nice level yard with plenty of extra parking. Donny Reece 360-509-5249View at www.johnlscott.com/22331

POULSBO $379,5002 bdrms on the main, plus a large bedroom that could be your master below. Use the walkout basement as a spacious master with a private bath, fireplace and separate entry. Jamie Jensen 360-620-9351.View at johnlscott.com/71121

POULSBO $400,000Well maintained 3bd/2ba rambler, barn w/stall(s), 24x48 outbuilding, 18x45 RV building, level usable land, central to Poulsbo, Silverdale, Keyport & Bremerton! Penny McLaughlin 206-618-5123View at www.johnlscott.com/55142

NEW ON MARKET KINGTON $469,000Tranquil & Serene 2700sf home w/an additional 2800sf shop which includes an office w/a bathroom located on 2.4 acres! Penny McLaughlin 206-618-5123View at www.johnlscott.com/90365

NEW ON MARKET POULSBO $489,0003bdrm + bonus rm w/2874sf on 1/2 ac. Home has upgraded SS appl, granite counters, heat pump, on demand wtr heater. 2 decks, sprinkler sys, 3-car finished gar. Pat Osler 360-271-0579View at www.johnlscott.com/31992

NEW ON MARKET KINGSTON $529,000This Beautiful Southwind custom home is almost finished! 1-story home w/an open floor plan, 2661 sqft, 3 bdrms & is located in a great neighborhood w/Mtn views. Sonny Woodward 360-297-0320View at www.johnlscott.com/48811

BAINBRIDGE $675,000Beautiful 125’ Agate Pass Waterfront w/1.6 acres! Great location w/potential. Older home w/a newer 4 bdrm septic installed. Detached 1272 sqft shop/greenhouse. Jim Lake 360-337-9817View at www.johnlscott.com/76715

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND $1,250,000panoramic Southern views showcased by a breathtaking view of Mt. Rainier. Perched above sunny South Beach Dr. Also includes a 1.09 acre building lot. Tim Wilkins 206-380-7345. View at johnlscott.com/35965

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND

CLALLAM COUNTYSEQUIM $665,0005 private suites, to suit every need. Stunning remodel with generous kitchen, gas range, pot filler & 2 of everything! Perfect for a B&B. Jamie Jensen 360-620-9351.View at johnlscott.com/22351

COMMERCIALCOMMERCIAL $99,900Commercial lot w/136’ of Chico Way rd frontage. Level & cleared, ready for your Rural Commercial Building. Nat Gas, Power, Wtr & Sewer in Street. Great Exposure Dave & Cindy McKay 360-620-5451View at www.johnlscott.com/80799

BREMERTONBREMERTON $170,000Fantastic Deal - This home is priced to sell - 3,036 SqFt home sits on a lovely wooded park-like private lot. Low-traffic street with well kept homes. Melissa Duryea 206-595-6968View at www.johnlscott.com/67563

BREMERTON - NEW! $185,000This charming home has been remodeled & updated! 2BR/1.75BA + 2 bonus rooms, 1800 sf, new elec. panel, floors, new roof, new appliances, new paint! Come see!! JB Bartel, CRS, GRI 360-731-1051 View at www.johnlscott.com/74565

BREMERTON $725,0004000 Sq Ft home located on 183 ft of Oyster Bay Waterfront. New flooring and upgrades throughout! Liana Baker 360-509-3031View at www.johnlscott.com/29690

LAND & LOTSLAND FOR SALE $69,000Your “View” homsite is ready to go! Water to the .97 acre lot. Build to see water & Olympics. Jean Bradford 360-620-4774View at www.johnlscott.com/21928

PORT ORCHARD – LAND $75,000Views over Seattle, Cascades and Puget Sound. Build your very own custom home in the desirable Manchester area. Water, sewer & gas available. Call for more information. Gary Lidstrom 360-340-6334View at www.johnlscott.com/72102

HANSVILLE $125,000Great view lot w/full unobstructed views of Admiralty Inlet, Shipping Lanes & Mountains. Water & power in street. Fully cleared & very sunny. Penny McLaughlin 206-618-5123View at www.johnlscott.com/10301

HANSVILLE $299,500Very private wtrfrt home site miles from ferry. Look out to shipping lanes, Mt Baker, Cascades, The Lighthouse. Beach access nearby. PUD water in street. Jan Zufelt 360-297-0325View at www.johnlscott.com/11001

KINGSTON $398,500Nice no-bank waterfront lot located in Apple Tree Cove with access to sewer & water. Walking distance to the Kingston Ferry. Sonny Woodward 360-297-0320View at www.johnlscott.com/65780

PORT ORCHARD – NEW! $ 269,900Charming 2BR/1.75BA on private 4+ acres. Remodeled kitchen, baths, plumbing & wiring. Got horses? 3 loafing sheds w/turnouts, hot fencing in & so much more. Becki Harness 360-340-2739 View at www.johnlscott.com/82864

PORT ORCHARD $275,000 So much house for the money! 3BR/3BA, 2720 sq. ft. 2 car garage plus a second kitchen & laundry room! Master on the main, well insulated & a heat pump too! Gary Lidstrom 360-340-6334 View at www.johnlscott.com/21150

PORT ORCHARD- REDUCED!! $379,999This fully remodeled home has 3BR/2BA in the main house plus a 1400 sq ft. apartment over the garage. The main kitchen has granite & SS plus the garage/shop! Dana Stone 360-620-1398 View at www.johnlscott.com/69611

SOUTH KITSAP

CENTRAL KITSAP $149,900True 1 level living in completely remodeled 2 bd/2 ba condo! No stairs from the 1 car gar or addnl reserved parking space into the home! Everything is updated! Brian & Sharna McArdle 360-710-1444 or 710-0644View at www.johnlscott.com/75216

CENTRAL KITSAP $207,500Enjoy community living! 3 bd, 2.25 ba, Near schools, military bases and business areas. Seller keeps this home unbelievably clean and offers AHS home warranty. Vivienne Vanichkul 360-689-4521View at www.johnlscott.com/76338

CENTRAL KITSAP $239,000Charming rambler located in heart of Fairgrounds community.Come view & say, “This is the one!!” Large fenced yard for privacy & enjoyment. 1year AHS warranty Louis Mejia 360-377-0046View at www.johnlscott.com/59680

CENTRAL KITSAP $264,900Cedar siding, 4 BR, 2.75 ba home has views of Dyes Inlet, Mt Rainier & Cascades from LR, DR, Kitch & nice size deck! Greenbelt in back provides complete privacy Phyllis Hoepfner 360-731-5216View at www.johnlscott.com/24829

CK SCHOOLS $268,000Private, Beautiful 4bd, 2.5ba hm, formal dng rm, lvg rm, spacious family rm, roomy 2-car gar/shop, huge yd, partially fncd. New roof, New paint inside & out. Pablo Lozano 360-710-0912View at www.johnlscott.com/51571

PRESALE $360,000The SEQUOIA on Lot 53 features a premium master suite with sitting area and 5-piece master bath. Sterling Hills Estates feat 40 acres of prvt parks, meadows. Silverdale Office 360-692-9777View at www.johnlscott.com/38314

CENTRAL KITSAP $399,900Beautiful 1.4 acre setting overlooking a approx 100 acre tree farm, w/ views of the Olympic Mtns. attached 2 car garage along W/approx 30x60 det shop. Shawn Hartley 360-710-7238View at www.johnlscott.com/10037

CENTRAL KITSAP

MASON COUNTYTAHUYA - NEW! $110,000Here is your getaway cabin on pristine, trout stocked Lake Haven! Known for it’s fishing & boating, camping & RV use, public boat launch! Owner Contract Terms Eric Von Marbod 360-710-2010 View at www.johnlscott.com/42527

TAHUYA $139,900Contemporary open floor plan home w/vaulted ceilings on Maggie Lake! spacious master suite, 2 additional bedrooms & a den, family room 2 full bathrooms & more Daryl Datus 360-801-6373 View at www.johnlscott.com/56788

n Hewlett Packard (HP)n iLink-Systemsn Kids.govn Level 3

Communicationsn Marine Toys for Tots

Foundationn Meshboxn Microsoft®n Naden Band of

Maritime Forces Pacificn National Tree Lighting

Ceremonyn Naturally Santa’s Inc.n Office Depot/Office

Maxn OneRendern OnStarn PCI Broadbandn Portable North Pole/

Ugroup Median Pueblo Riverwalkn Ronald McDonald

House Charities of Southern Colorado

n Save the Childrenn Searsn Space Foundationn Spil Gamesn SiriusXM®n Strategic Air & Space

Museum

n Unityn U.S. Air Force

Academy Bandn U.S. Air Force Band of

the Golden Westn U.S. Air Force Band of

the West

n U.S. Air Force Bandn U.S. Air Force

Heartland of America Bandn U.S. Army Ground

Forces Bandn U.S. Band of

MidAmerica

n U.S. Coast Guard Bandn U.S. Department of

State Family Liaison Officen U.S. Merchant Marine

Academyn U.S. Postal Servicen Verizon

n Visionboxn West Point Bandn Windows Azuren Xtomic

DECEMBER 2015 | VETERANS LIFE I 3

NORADContinued from page 2

Concert benefits Captain Joseph House Foundation

PORT ANGELES — Join Grammy Award-winning artists Tingstad & Rumbel for the “Gift of Giving — A Benefit for Captain Joseph House Foundation,” 5–9:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at C’est Si Bon, 23 Cedar Park Drive, Port Angeles.

Tickets — $80 general; $70 veteran, active military, Gold Star — includes din-ner, concert, 12 Days of Christmas Silent Auction and Fund-a-Need. Contact Betsy Schultz, 360-460-7848; or Sam Coyle, 360-460-4079.

Tingstad & Rumbel (tingstadrumbel.com)

won a Grammy in 2003 for “Acoustic Garden”; “Southwest” was nominat-ed for a Grammy in 2007.

Info: www.captainjoseph housefoundation.org.

Pearl Harbor remembrance Dec. 7 at NUWC

KEYPORT — Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport, hosts its annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony at 11 a.m. Dec. 7 in the Jack Murdock Auditorium at Naval Undersea Museum, Keyport.

The event is free and open to the public. It also honors Pearl Harbor sur-vivors and their role in defending freedom.

10th year for Presents for Patriots program

DULLES, Va. — Freedom Alliance, a non-profit that assists injured military personnel, is orga-nizing its 10th Presents for Patriots program, which helps hundreds of service members experiencing financial hardship over the holidays.

Last holiday season, the program assisted nearly 600 individuals in 22 states, according to the organiza-tion. Donors can sponsor a military family — fulfilling their wish list, wrapping the gifts and sending let-ters of appreciation and encouragement.

Financial crisis, time

constraints, and other stress can cause anxiety and grief around the holiday season for families. However, military families may face additional strug-gles such as deployment, dealing with combat-relat-ed injuries, and demanding treatment schedules.

In addition to the Presents for Patriots pro-gram, Freedom Alliance has provided $9 million in college scholarships for the children of military personnel who were killed or disabled in military service, and millions more to help wounded troops and military families with outdoor recreation therapy such as hunting and fish-ing trips, Heroes Vacations, care packages for deployed troops, refurbished homes

and more.For information on

how to sponsor a fam-ily, contact Alicia Behm, 703-444-7940 or Alicia.Behm@FreedomAlliance.org. Online: www.freedom alliance.org

Free phone cards for deployed sailors, Marines

BREMERTON — The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) is giving away free $10 phone cards to sailors and Marines away from their homeports and those for-ward deployed to overseas ports during the holiday season.

“NEXCOM has been giv-ing away free phone cards

over the holidays for many, many years,” said Thomas Harris of NEXCOM’s Telecommunications Program Office. “This is just one small way we can thank these service members and their fami-lies for their service to our country.”

The $10 AT&T prepaid phone cards can be used via the Afloat Personal Telecommunications Service system, the ship’s Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) system or ashore in the United States or any foreign port where AT&T has a presence.

NEXCOM reported it will distribute or has dis-tributed more than 40,000 phone cards to personnel aboard more than 50 sub-marines and surface ships.

Jason Selby, recently retired Marine of 23 years and contact for Kitsap County Toys for Tots, said, “I have been doing this my whole career off and on. I enjoy giving back to a com-munity that’s helped me and my family. My entire family — my 15-year-old son, my 9-year-old daugh-ter and my wife — all enjoy the satisfaction of the smiles on those kids’ faces.”

He added, “But this year especially, we need all the

help we can get.”Selby explained that

although the organization tries to keep a surplus of toys for giving to other organizations, they “got hit hard this year.”

Selby said, “Everything we do, we try to help the community. Once we’re done with the toy drive, [that] doesn’t mean we stop giving.”

Toys for Tots uses all monetary donations to purchase toys for the com-munity; any remaining toys are boxed and provided to local hospitals and police departments for children who have suffered a trau-

ma throughout the year. “What people need to

realize is a lot of organiza-tions this year are asking,” Selby said, “and although people are in the giving spirit, they need to do their research.”

Selby said although donations are accepted throughout the state, only donations made in Kitsap County will help this com-munity.

“Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t really under-stand the Toys for Tots program, that all the toys and monetary donations donated in Kitsap County stay in Kitsap County 100

percent.“Our amount of mon-

etary donations was down $9,000 last year. We’re trying to pick it up but we are still behind the curve. We are just trying to build up our funds for better giv-ing.”

So how can you get involved?

“Give,” Selby said. “This is the season of giving — what better joy than to give to a child who may not receive a gift this Christmas?”

Selby said toys will be distributed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 19 at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds

Presidents Hall, but dona-tions are accepted up until Dec. 23.

“It’s hard to describe the look on a single moth-er’s face who has been standing in line with her children for hours just to receive a present for her children,” Selby said. “And then she asks you if you could please put their toys in a black bag so they don’t see. She just wants to give her children a Christmas … You get the joy of giving to a child who might not receive a Christmas other-wise.”

“Our big thing is that every kid gets a Christmas,

even if they only get one present,” Selby said. He said all who are interested in donating a toy for a child in need in the community should keep in mind a toy drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the Poulsbo Walmart.

“A moving truck with Marines will be out front,” Selby said. “We want to fill up a moving truck. Any new unwrapped gift will be accepted.”

For a list of toy drop-off sites, or to inquire about requesting a toy, volunteer-ing, or other information about Toys for Tots, go to www.toysfortots.org.

Toys for TotsContinued from page 1

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4 I VETERANS LIFE | DECEMBER 2015 DECEMBER, @

At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the guns � nally fell silent across France.Peace broke out that day, and soon Johnny came

marching home, back to the U.S.For many years, Nov. 11 was recognized as Armistice Day, a day we gave recognition and thanks to our veterans of the Great War.A second World War, a U.N. “police action” in Korea and 35 years later, the Nov. 11 observance was renamed as Veterans Day. Since then, we as a grateful nation honor and give thanks to every veteran that served at home or abroad — be it in France, the Paci� c, the cold hills of Korea or a military base stateside.On Nov. 11, we give thanks to the veterans that fought in the sand and deserts of Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.On every other day, I hope we give thanks to the active uniformed servicemen and women that are serving in harm’s way. No matter how complex the mission, how di� cult the task or terrain, our uniformed service members and military families have continually answered our nation’s call.But we as a nation have let a group of veterans down. From the early 1950s to the mid-1960s, we were � ghting a very real Cold War. Back then, the Domino Theory was fact. From the White House and Pentagon down to our family dinner tables, it shaped our foreign policy and our national opinion. All of America felt that we were the bulwark of freedom, and that the U.S. must take a stand against communism.And in 1965 we did — in Vietnam. Fifty years after the begin-ning and 40 years after the end of that war, many Americans fail to go beyond lingering disagreement of the policies that led to that war and the complex issues that escalated and ended it. Back then, many of us never really properly thanked and welcomed home the thousands of men and women who answered our nation’s call and put their boots on the ground and their lives on the line in the humid jungles, rivers and � re bases of that divided country.

WRITE TO US: Veterans Life welcomes letters from its readers. To make room for as many letters as possible, keep your letter to 350 words maximum. Include your name and daytime phone number for verification. Send to P.O. Box 278, Poulsbo, WA. 98370; fax to 360-779-8276; or email rwalker@soundpublishing.com.OPINION

LifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLife

SOUND OFF

By SPENSER R. HALEYVeterans Life Community

Advisory Board

A s a patient who has a prescription for medical marijuana, it has been dif-

ficult at times finding a dispensary that offers outstanding service as well as exceptional product — let alone one owned and operated by a fellow Army veteran.

Fortunately, that is precisely what I found when I ventured into Hope Alternative Medicine a little less than a year ago.

Scott Blevins served in the U.S. Army from 1976-1984 as a truck driver and warehouse supply spe-cialist. He was inspired to explore this method of homeopathic medi-cine while watching his brother suffer from cancer. He watched as the prescription meds, though helpful with pain management, kept his brother from enjoying daily life. So he and his wife Kim set out on a mission.

Researching the medicinal properties of cannabis, they immediately made the decision to open a dispensary. It was a dream discussed and realized with long-

time friend and business partner Nick Rodgers.

There is something to be said for their work ethic as well. Opening a dispensary isn’t easy. A license must be obtained and then a location must be found. The location is the more difficult of the two; because of the social stigma against cannabis, it’s hard to find an accepting landlord. The location then must meet code. The product must be arranged and word of the opening sent out to potential patients.

These people accomplished all of this in only six weeks — no small feat.

Scott and Kim have two sons. The eldest son, Nicholas, is cur-rently in the U.S. Army, having deployed five times. The younger son, Sean, helps run the dispen-sary, located in Silverdale across Ridgetop Boulevard from Best Buy.

As soon as you enter the shop, it is evident that compassion is a leading trait with the folks in charge. The shop is well stocked with an array of products, from edibles and tinctures to flour and concentrates. The staff is knowl-

edgeable and patient, as well as quick to research a question should they happen to not know off-hand. Priced for the consumer, all products are tested to ensure the quality standard set forth by the Blevinses and Rodgers.

They epitomize hard work and compassion. From the moment I entered the shop, I could tell these were good people, the kind that care more about your expe-rience than what is in the till at closing time. They have pledged to make annual donations to numerous charities such as The Humane Society, Washington State Patrol, and the American Cancer Society.

I am happy to have found a shop where I can feel comfort-able. As someone who deals with PTSD, finding comfort outside of my house is hard to come by. I encourage those that have the necessary paperwork to give them a chance to win you over as they have with me.

— Spenser R. Haley is a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the Veterans Life Community Advisory Board.

A beacon of ‘Hope’ for those with PTSD

IN OUR OPINIONIt’s never too late to thank a vet

ADMINISTRATIONLori Maxim, publisher, ext. 1050Nicole Clapp, office administrator, ext. 2050

EDITORIALRichard Walker, editor, ext. 5050Pete O’Cain, copy editor, ext. 5058Sophie Bonomi, copy editor, ext. 5054

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Subscription rates: $24 per year by mail

VETERANS LIFE ADVISORY BOARDSpenser R. Haley, Jack James,

Brian Kelly, Leslie Kelly, Luciano Marano, John Rodriguez, Richard Walker

Copyright 2015 Sound Publishing

Veterans Life continues Sound Publishing’s proud tradition of producing military- and veteran-interest

publications on its own or under contract with the U.S. Navy. Past publications include Trident Tides,

Puget Sound Navy News, Northwest Navigator, and Kitsap Navy News.

LifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeLifeThe Voice for Kitsap’s Veterans, Active-Duty Personnel and their Families

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See EDITORIAL, Page 5

By JEFF TOLMANGuest columnist

Each Christmas sea-son, we hear about nine ladies dancing,

ten Lords a-leaping, five golden rings and a par-tridge in a pear tree.

While I like the song and sentiment, finding Lords (except for Poulsbo City Council member Connie, her husband Kent and their clan) and French hens in North Kitsap can be problematic. Giving golden rings, at the current price of the metal, is impractical. There are, though, inex-pensive things we can do to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas, take a child’s name off a giving tree and fill their wishes and needs. Helping another person have a merry Christmas may be the best gift we can give ourselves any year.

On the second day of Christmas, give home-made gifts to two friends or family members. Your thoughtfulness, and artistic

flair, will be noticed and appreciated.

On the third day of Christmas, put three surprise “stuffers” in your loved ones’ stockings on the mantel.

On the fourth day of Christmas, deliver baked goods for four neighbors. Almost all of us have neigh-bors we enjoy and appreci-ate more than they know, or more than we express. Christmas is a good time to say “thanks” — for watch-ing your house, or taking your garbage cans to the road, or picking up your

papers when you are away.On the fifth day of

Christmas, put $5 in the red kettle. Helping those in need is, in the end, a basic spirit of the holiday season.

On the sixth day of Christmas, give notes of thanks to service provid-ers who have made your life better this year. The

person who cuts your hair. Your garbage collector and paper deliverer. The server who knows what you are going to order before you do. Your doctor and dentist and their staffs. The retail clerks who always greet you with a smile and let you know they are happy to see you.

On the seventh day of Christmas, write and send seven heartfelt notes to family members remind-ing them what each adds to your life.

On the eighth day of Christmas, verbalize a morning and evening recita-

tion of eight positive aspects in your life.

On the ninth day of Christmas, say “Merry Christmas!” or “Happy holi-days!” to nine strangers.

On the tenth day of Christmas, give $10 or more to the Poulsbo Lions Raab Foundation Bellringer Fund, North Kitsap’s great holiday tradition.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, give 11 ran-dom compliments to people you see today.

Finally, on the twelfth day of Christmas, send holiday cards or messages to friends you have not communicated with for a year or more. Few gifts make a day brighter than re-connecting with an old friend.

May your holidays be wonderful and 2016 a happy, healthy year.

— Jeff Tolman is a law-yer in Poulsbo and a peri-odic columnist for the North Kitsap Herald, a sister news-paper of Veterans Life.

Copyright Jeff Tolman 2015 All rights reserved

By Dr. JOHN MATECZUNand BARBARA VAN DAHLEN

On Veterans Day, we were reminded of the millions of

brave men and women that have stood on the front lines for our country. But rarely are we reminded of what these soldiers and military personnel endure once they rejoin civilian life.

Nationally, nearly 30 percent of veterans treated by the Veterans Administration have PTSD or major depression, and an estimated 22 veterans commit suicide every day. We need to do more with the resources we have to help aid in the recovery of our returning service members.

Jim Martinson lost both of his legs and his right index finger when a land mine exploded in Vietnam in 1968. While rehabbing at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, he felt lost and discouraged. He feared he would never again experience simple joys like skiing or playing basketball.

While Martinson worked on healing physi-cally from his injuries, his mental healing came from sports and his faith. His determination to prevent his injuries from holding him back drove him to compete in — and win — the Boston Marathon in his specialty wheelchair. He captured gold medals in both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games and was the oldest athlete to compete in skiing at the Winter X Games. Now, he spends his time golfing at Tacoma’s American Lake Veterans Golf Course, which was designed by famed golfer Jack Nicklaus specifically for wounded veterans. The course is the only one of its kind in the country.

Martinson is one of more than 600,000 veter-ans living in Washington, and he knows firsthand how important it is to find the right services for both physical and mental recov-ery.

Military personnel and veterans often experience increased rates of mental illness, including post-

traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, depression and substance abuse. If left untreated, these conditions can have devastating consequences.

The good news is, mental illnesses can be diagnosed and success-fully treated, and with the proper support, people can learn to live in recovery and lead full, rewarding lives. Before that can hap-pen, it's necessary to iden-tify the issue, alert the per-son suffering to symptoms that are consistent with a condition or that would

warrant further evaluation or treatment, and provide guidance on where to seek assistance.

Veterans can get that kind of comprehensive help through Give an Hour, a national nonprofit organi-zation providing confiden-tial and free mental health services to members of the military, veterans and their loved ones. Nationally, the organization has a network of nearly 7,000 licensed mental health professionals who have provided more than 163,000 hours of care and support to those in

need since the organization was founded in 2005.

But more needs to be done. Give an Hour is looking at the South Puget Sound region to recruit more volunteer licensed mental health professional to offer free counseling to the military and veteran population, and to identify and coordinate community-based efforts to create a comprehensive and inte-grated system of care for service members, veterans and their families as they transition home.

United Health Foundation recently award-ed a grant to help Give an Hour raise awareness of agencies and organizations that provide culturally competent counseling to service members, veter-ans and their loved ones; grow its mental health care provider network; and help military families access the resources and services they need by creating a comprehensive mental health resource list and addressing barriers to treatment — such as money, stigma and trans-portation — in collabora-

tion with other organiza-tions.

Mental health awareness is everyone's responsibil-ity — especially for our veterans and their families who have sacrificed for our country. It is incumbent upon us to do what we can to support our veterans. Whether it be through donating time, money or resources, we must come together to make sure no returning service member feels alone.

Martinson says resourc-es like Give an Hour and American Lake Golf Course weren’t around when he returned from Vietnam. But he is glad to see younger soldiers benefiting — and heal-ing — with the help of the community.

— Dr. John Mateczun is president of the UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans. Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., is president of Give an Hour, a nonprof-it organization providing free mental health services to U.S. military personnel and families affected by the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

DECEMBER 2015 | VETERANS LIFE I 5

Today, most of us have family members, friends or acquaintances that served in Viet-nam. It is never too late for us to undo the dis-service done to many veterans who returned home and were disdained or ignored 40 years ago. Now is the time to thank a Vietnam veteran for their service. Now is the time to listen to their story.— This editorial was written for this publication by William Shaw of Sound Publishing, which owns and publishes Veterans Life. Shaw is publisher of the Bellevue Reporter, Mercer Island Reporter, the Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter and the Snoqualmie Valley Record. Contact him at wshaw@soundpublishing.com.

FOR THE RECORD

SOUND OFF

TOLMAN’S TALES

EditorialContinued from page 4

We checked every reference to Medal of Honor recipients to make sure the “w” word wasn’t in there amid all of those profiles and photo captions (“The Medal of Honor,” page 1, Veterans Life November edition). But one snuck by us, and for that we sincerely apolo-gize. We do know that those who receive the nation’s highest military honor are Medal of Honor recipients, not Medal of Honor winners. And we are grateful to the reader who took the time to call the errant reference to our atten-tion.

— Veterans Life strives for accuracy in its reporting. If you feel we’ve erred, please call the editor at 360-779-4464 or email rwalker@soundpublishing.com.

Making mental-health care for veterans a priority

‘Twelve Days of Christmas,’ 2015 edition

By Dr. John Mateczun and Barbara Van Dahlen

Jeff Tolman

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6 I VETERANS LIFE | DECEMBER 2015 DECEMBER 2015 | VETERANS LIFE I 7

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By EMILY HALLVeterans Life

POULSBO — The United States Marine Corps is the

third-oldest military branch in the United States, after the Army and the Navy. The Continental Congress on Nov. 10, 1775 approved a resolution to establish two battalions of Marines able to fight at sea and on shore, as the war for independence from Britain neared.

After 240 years of indus-trial and technological evo-lution, the Marine Corps has undergone some pro-found changes. Through the years, technology has made it easier to construct more sophisticated weap-onry and to save lives. These continuous develop-ments have made different the tactics through which wars have been fought.

Americans appreciate the Marine Corps for the longstanding traditions and professionalism which Marines have worked hard to preserve. From the second they step on the yellow footprints at boot camp, to the moment they sign their DD-214 (the final document that turns a Marine into a veteran), members of the “tip of the military spear” live and breathe mission success in everything they do.

In every war, the Marines are known to have been first to fight. There are some traits that have differentiated Marines from their counterparts in other military branches for

240 years. There are rea-sons behind the pride in everything they do.

Kyle Broussard was a sergeant in the Marine Corps as a rifleman and the top-scoring Designated Marksman of his unit, serving from 2009-14. He attributes operation readi-ness to open and honest communication.

“We follow on tradition a lot in the Marine Corps,” Broussard said. “Open and honest communication is paramount to mission suc-cess. It takes a good leader to break the unit away from the nonsense.”

By the end of his active service in 2014, Broussard felt happy to have fulfilled his goal to help people and help influence positive change in the world. He left the military elated, with a newfound appreciation for people.

“Don’t take [anyone] for granted,” he said. “It’s

important to understand what they mean to you.”

Broussard now attends Olympic College, where he is the general manager of the campus monthly publi-cation, The Olympian. He is ambitious and plans on one day studying law at the University of Washington.

Tammy Fedder served from 1981-84, working in ground radio repair and attaining the rank of cor-poral. Her training, which wasn’t any different than the ways her male coun-terparts trained, instilled in her pride and confidence.

“The most important quality I took from it was pride — pride that I made it through boot camp, pride of place, the feeling that I could do anything and sur-vive because I was with the toughest bunch of bastards to ever wear the uniform,” Fedder said. “I still feel that and it makes me stand tall still after 30 years.”

At Fedder’s duty sta-tion in Twentynine Palms, California, she learned how to “adapt and over-come,” a phrase commonly said in the Marine Corps, which means to approach each obstacle with the will to make it through by any means possible.

“Being stationed in the high desert was like enter-ing another world,” Fedder said. “I [first] arrived at night. Dark sky, beautiful mountains, and more stars that I had ever seen. The next morning, I walked outside to the ugliest bar-ren rock piles I had ever seen. I thought my drill instructors must have hated me to send me there but I learned to enjoy it. I started rock climbing, long hikes to remote oases, and going shooting with my buddies for fun on week-ends. What I hated most was the heat inside of the tanks while I pulled gear. The temperature was 120 degrees outside but 160 inside. It was awful.”

Another woman of “The Fewer and Prouder” is Revalyn Hutchinson, who served from 2010-12 in Camp Pendleton, California. During her ser-vice, in which she special-ized in communications, Hutchinson gained self-confidence and empower-ment from earning the title of United States Marine.

“I liked all of my uni-forms, because I always felt strong and like a Marine in them,” she said. “I liked learning the strength I had in me and making memories. I want-ed to do 20 years.”

Hutchinson’s time in service helped her realize

that, even in the male-dom-inated Marine Corps, she was just as “squared away” of a Marine as her male counterparts. She was con-fident as a Marine and felt accepted. Her experience in the military was a posi-tive one.

“I would do it all over again. It brought me and my grandfather close and it was the best deci-sion I made in my life,” Hutchinson said.

Like Hutchinson, Luis Martinez, a recently discharged Marine cor-poral who served in 1st Supply Battalion at Camp Pendleton, admired the tra-dition of the Marine dress blue uniform; its basic form of blue jacket with red trim dates back to the 19th century.

“I really liked the dress blues because it’s one of the sharpest-looking uni-forms out of the lot, even though all the Marine uni-forms are sharp,” he said.

On the other hand, Broussard’s favorite uni-form is the green “service alpha” uniform, which must be worn when check-ing into a new unit. He said the uniform represents “rampant, distinguished professionalism.”

Martinez notes that although there were ups and downs, his unit was tightly-knit because high morale and cohesion helped it become “one great, working machine that is Supply Company, 1st Supply Battalion.”

“When I signed my DD-214, I felt a weight being lifted off my shoul-ders but also felt some

sadness, as I am no longer part of something bigger than myself and will never experience the type of camaraderie that is in the Corps,” Martinez said.

These four Marine Corps veterans — Broussard, Fedder, Hutchinson and Martinez — have served the United States with honor and integrity. Although each served in a different unit and occupational specialty, they learned traditional values which have been passed down through almost two-and-a-half centuries. The values that were instilled in these Marines have helped dis-tinguish this branch from all others, and are widely celebrated as the Corps celebrates its 240th anni-versary.

Happy birthday, Marines. Semper Fidelis!

— Emily Hall served in the USMC from 2010-13. She is a student at Olympic College and an intern at the North Kitsap Herald.

8 I VETERANS LIFE | DECEMBER 2015 DECEMBER, @

U.S. Marine Corps: 240 years of tradition

Tammy Fedder served in the Corps from 1981-84.

Courtesy photo

PROFILES

Lance Cpl. Luis Martinez and actor

R. Lee Ermey of

‘Full Metal Jacket’ fame at the 2012

Marine Corps

Ball at the Pechanga Casino in Murrieta,

California.

Kevin Kheng / Courtesy

The Tun Tavern ... the first Marine recruit-ment took place here in 1775.

U.S. Marine Corps Revalyn Hutchinson served

in the Corps from 2010-12.Courtesy photo

Emily Hall served in the Corps from 2010-13.

Courtesy photo

DECEMBER 2015 | VETERANS LIFE I 9

By PETER O’CAINVeterans Life

BREMERTON — I walk into the Glacier Cove

2 room in the Kitsap Conference Center with my friend Wade. It’s 9 a.m. on a Thursday.

About a dozen people are doing about a dozen things. There’s a pair of sailors in blue coveralls with pale faces and dark red circles around their eyes. There’s a nurse in blue scrubs; she looks healthy. There’s a man with blue skin wearing dusty, black wingtip shoes, tight red pants and a black dress shirt. He looks dead.

Or at least half dead.His name is Keith Allan.

Fans of Syfy’s “Z Nation” know him as a smartass antihero named Murphy, humanity’s best hope of surviving the zombie apoc-alypse because of a govern-ment experiment that left him more or less immune to zombie bites.

“It’s a great character for me,” said Allan, 41. “I have a lot of fun playing him.”

Allan and 36 other mis-fits from “Z Nation” were in Bremerton to film a hand-ful of scenes on the USS Turner Joy, Sept. 24.

“It’s cool,” Allan said. “I mean, how many times do you get to film in a destroyer?”

It happened almost by chance. In August, Bremerton City Councilman Dino Davis was touring businesses in Eastern Washington when his group stopped by the “Z Nation” set in Spokane. Producer Jodi Binstock said the show was in need of a Navy ship.

“I said, ‘I know a guy,’ ” Davis said.

That guy was John Hanson, president of the Bremerton Historic Ships Association. Hanson jumped on the chance to host the show. “I think this is going to give us a lot of exposure,” Hanson said.

After exchanging a long series of emails, the ship’s association and “Z Nation” came to terms: the Turner Joy would close its doors

to the public for one day so the crew could film, in exchange for what Hanson said was fair market value.

While hosting the show was a no-brainer for Hanson, he admits he was hesitant to work with the cast and crew. He imagined they’d be fickle and pomp-ous.

”It was way more fun than I ever expected,” Hanson said. “(They) turned out to be delightful, kind people who were just a lot of fun.”

Wade and I check in with Jennifer Gatts, who’s in charge of extras casting. They call her the “Zombie Mama” because she manages all the zombies. Today, she only has to wrangle 11 extras, includ-ing yours truly.

This is my first time as an extra. All I can think is, “Don’t break anything” and “Try not to look lost.”

Wade isn’t lost. Wade’s worked as a zombie extra on “Z Nation” since it began filming in Spokane a year and a half ago. He’s

been stabbed in the head with a backhoe, blown up by a grenade, set on fire, decapitated and shot through the eye.

He figures he’s been killed on-screen at least 10 times, but, “Once you’ve died for the fifth time, they all kind of blend together.”

Gatts checks us in and then points us over to wardrobe where they’ll turn us into sailors. I slip into a set of navy blue coveralls that fit me like a trash bag. Next, makeup artist Corinne Foster does her work on me. When she’s finished, I take a seat by the other extras.

Tight quartersThe hard part of shoot-

ing on a ship is the space — namely, the fact that there isn’t any.

“This is the first time I’ve ever shot anybody on a true naval ship,” said Marc Dahlstrom, production supervisor. “The trickiest thing has been the tight quarters.”

The ceilings are low

and the passageways aren’t much wider than a doorway. They’ve tucked us extras away in the chief petty officers mess until we’re needed.

The extras are divided into three roles for two scenes: two Navy SEALs and five sailors who’ll be running through a hallway, and four sailors who’ll be on the bridge. I’m with the bridge group. Wade’s the only extra who’s been on the show before and ends up in both scenes.

The other guys in my group are Leif Layman, a 19-year-old actor and bio-engineering student at the University of Washington; Zach Archuleta, a 20-some-thing actor/student/bar-tender/massage therapist from Seattle; and Joshua Hamilton, a 30-year-old actor with theater degrees from Eastern Michigan University and the University of Florida.

We spend hours in the chief’s mess; one of the SEALs says this is what the military is like — “hurry

up and wait.” My group won’t be called to the set until 5 p.m.

We break for lunch at Boston’s Pizza at 2 p.m. Outside the Turner Joy are a few fans hoping to see the actors. Hanson tells me one of them waited seven hours to see Allan and Nat Zang, who plays 10K, a young sniper with thou-sands of zombie kills.

“It’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised by the fans that show up,” Allan said. “To have people who are excited about the show and to meet you — there’s nothing bad about it.”

The MatrixAllan steps behind me

on the bridge. I don’t see him, but I know he’s there. He’s 6 foot 2, but his long arms and legs make him seem bigger.

One thing I notice about Allan: he’s engaging and people enjoy being around him.

I’m sitting before a glow-ing, green screen called a range azimuth indicator.

My job is to act like I know what I’m doing while main-taining an empty, expres-sionless look on my face. It’s the role I was born to play.

Layman, Archuleta and Hamilton have the same instructions: stare at your screens and turn knobs. They sit side-by-side on the other side of the bridge. Wade sits behind me, his face buried in some compli-cated-looking contraption.

When someone calls “Action!” I start turning knobs like I’m playing with an Etch A Sketch and not a radar system used during the Vietnam War.

Allan and his counter-parts (I’d tell you who, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy) exchange a tense dialogue for a few minutes. His voice is deep and smoky, as if his vocal cords were aged in a barrel of Jack Daniels.

This goes on for two hours. The director, John Hyams, and the cinema-tographer pick a camera angle, shoot the scene a few times, pick a new angle and repeat.

There are lights and equipment placed through-out the bridge and it all looks fragile and expen-sive. I figure moving about would jeopardize my origi-nal goal of not breaking anything.

In all, the scene takes about three hours to shoot for what I’m guessing will be 2-3 minutes of screen time. If that.

It’s the final scene for the sailors, so we’re sent packing. Wade and I turn in our costumes and thank the “Zombie Mama” for her help.

USS Turner Joy becomes set for ‘Z Nation’A film crew from Bremerton High School interviews extras in the chief ’s mess of the USS Turner Joy.

Peter O’Cain / Veterans Life

A Marine Corps veteran relates his experience as an extra on ‘Z Nation’

From left, Keith Allan (Murphy), “Z Nation” fan David Wood and Nat Zang (10K). Peter O’Cain / Veterans Life

“Z Nation” crew members prepare to film a scene on Dyes Inlet near Evergreen Rotary Park. Peter O’Cain / Veterans Life

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American Legion Post 30, Port Orchard

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Contact: Tom Welch, email xtw@aol.com.

American Legion Post 245 Veterans Service Office19068 Jensen Way, Suite

3A, downtown Poulsbo. 360-779-5456.

Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays.

Disabled American Veterans Chapter 5

and Auxiliary2315 Burwell St.,

Bremerton. 360-373-2397.Chapter meetings:

Meeting noon, potluck 1 p.m., first Saturdays.

Disabled American Veterans Chapter 22

4475 W. Birch Ave., Port Orchard. 360-362-3345.

Chapter meetings: Potluck noon, meeting 1 p.m., second Saturdays.

DAV Adjutant Service Office

North Mason Resources, 140 NE Highway 300, Belfair. 360-552-2303.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday or by appointment.

Kitsap County Veterans Assistance Program

Kitsap County Department of Human Services, 614 Division St., MS-23, Port Orchard.

Contact: 360-337-4811. Online: www.kitsapgov.

com/hs/veterans/VA.htm.

Marine Corps League Olympic Peninsula

Detachment 5312315 Burwell St.,

Bremerton. 360-265-7492.Meets 6 p.m. the first

Wednesday of the month.

Mason County Veterans Service Office

Veterans Memorial Hall, 210 W. Franklin St., Shelton.

The service office provides free assistance for all veterans, including pre-, current and post-incarcerated vets with any VA claims, within the state.

It also provides county financial assistance through the Soldiers and Sailors Veterans Assistance Fund. It is available to resident veterans of Mason County only.

Contact: Pete Laserinko, 360-426-4546.

Suquamish Tribe Veterans Resource Office

Contact: LaVada Anderson, 360-394-8515, landerson@suquamish.nsn.us.

VFW Post 239Bremerton

190 Dora Ave., Bremerton. 360-377-6739.

Meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month.

VFW Post 2669Port Orchard

736 Bay St., Port Orchard. Service officer available

noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays.

VFW Post No. 1694Shelton

Memorial Hall, Second and Franklin streets, Shelton. 360-426-4546.

Meets 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. Beverages and snacks are served at 6 p.m. by the Ladies Auxiliary.

WorkSource Kitsap County1300 Sylvan Way, second

floor, Bremerton. 360-337-4767.

Contact: Michael Robinson, disabled veterans outreach, 360-337-4727, mrobinson@esd.wa.gov. Or jmckenna@esd.wa.gov.

— To add your organiza-tion to this list, email rwalker @soundpublishing.com.

10 I VETERANS LIFE | DECEMBER 2015 DECEMBER, @

VETERANS RESOURCES

CHATTERWGU Washington has scholarships for veterans, spouses

SEATTLE — Washington Governors University, a nonprofit, online university, is launch-ing a new scholarship program to help veterans and their spouses go back to school and earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

The WGU Washington Salute To Veterans Scholarship, valued at up to $2,500 per student, will be applied incrementally toward WGU Washington’s already-low tuition of about $6,000 per year. Applications are being accepted now through Jan. 31, 2016 at http://washing ton.wgu.edu/veterans.

“WGU Washington is an excellent option for cur-rent and former service members and their fami-lies,” said retired Major Gen. Tim Lowenberg, a WGU Washington board member.

“The university offers students access to higher education wherever they are, whenever they need it, at a price they can afford.”

WGU Washington is the state-based affiliate

of the national Western Governors University. WGU has been recog-nized eight years in a row by Military Advanced Education on the maga-zine’s list of Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities, and honored for five consecutive years by militaryfriendly schools.com as a Military Friendly® School.

Like its parent university, WGU Washington’s degree programs are designed to provide the kind of flexibility nontraditional students — like veterans and their families — need. Linda Carucci, a resident of Richland, is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. She says WGU Washington’s innovative model allows her to pursue an MBA in Healthcare Management and still tackle her other responsibilities.

“Because WGU Washington is online and competency-based, I can study on my own time and — most importantly — at my own pace,” Carucci said. “As I address a few medical issues, I don’t have to give up the dream of a hard-earned master’s degree. WGU Washington is special in the flexibility it affords its students.”

WGU Washington (http://washington.wgu.edu/veterans) was established by the state Legislature in 2011 in partnership with nationally recognized and accred-ited Western Governors University to expand access to higher education for Washington residents.

The state-endorsed, online university offers more than 50 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in Business, Information Technology, Teacher Education, and Health Professions, includ-ing Nursing.

Western Governors University is regionally accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Teachers College pro-grams are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Nursing programs are accred-ited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The university has earned the support of more than 20 leading cor-porations and foundations. They include institutions such as AT&T, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA,

Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education, and Zions Bank.

Website assists those who didn’t get vets preference

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Patrol has established a website link to identify individuals who applied to be troop-ers and believe they were not given their veterans’ preference points on prior applicant tests.

Washington state law requires state agencies to give veterans’ preference points to honorably dis-charged veterans during the hiring process. 

A lawsuit brought against the State of Washington and WSP alleges the state agency failed to provide required veterans’ preference points on tests given to trooper applicants.

In order to identify persons who may be claim-ants potentially entitled to compensation in connec-tion with this litigation, the WSP and the plaintiffs in the case are seeking infor-mation from anyone who is an honorably discharged

veteran, applied to work as a trooper with State Patrol between Jan. 1, 1994, and Jan. 1, 2013, and passed the tests given by the patrol but were not hired.

Info: www.wspveteran litigation.com.

Assistance for homeless veterans in Kitsap County

PORT ORCHARD — A recent outreach project to survey veterans living without shelter in Kitsap County revealed that 45 veterans are homeless and “living in situations not meant for human habita-tion.”

The outreach project was part of a local initiative to end homelessness for veterans, called Homes for All Who Served. It’s being spearheaded by a coali-tion of agencies who are dedicated to housing vet-erans, including the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board.

Veterans Assistance Supportive Housing Vouchers and rental assis-tance funds are available to veterans, landlords and property owners. Contact Jackie Fojtik at the Housing Solutions Center, 360-473-2035.

Veterans who need assis-tance with housing should contact the Housing Solutions Center, 360-473-2035; or drop-in to the weekly Veterans Housing Options Group at Kitsap Community Resources, 1201 Park St., Bremerton, at 1 p.m. every Monday. The Veterans Housing Options Group helps con-nect veterans with housing resources.

Looking for family of shipmate killed in Vietnam

POULSBO — Bill O’Ferrall sent the following message to Veterans Life:

“I am trying to locate the next of kin, or any rela-tive of Marvin Hill, EON3, U.S. Navy Seabees, who was killed in action on 25 May 1967 in Vietnam while assigned to MCB 11.

“The MCB 11 Association would like to include them in our annual reunions when we honor all of our fallen heroes.”

You can contact O’Ferrall by email, SeansPopPop@gmail.com; or call 325-655-0788.

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n Brandman University, Naval Base Kitsap — Bangor. Call 800-746-0082. Email aca dadvisorBN@brandman.edu. Go to www.brand man.edu/bangor-nbk/contact#sthash.4Bw1Ulb7.dpuf.

n Olympic College, Naval Base Kitsap — Bangor. Navy College Office, Building 1042. Call 360-473-2821. Email vet

center@olympic.edu.n Olympic College,

Naval Base Kitsap — Bremerton. Navy College Office, Building 491. Call 360-473-2821. Email vet center@olympic.edu.

n Olympic College, Bremerton campus. 1600 Chester Ave. Call 360-792-6050. Email prospect@olympic.edu.

n Olympic College, Poulsbo campus. 1000

Olympic College Way NW, Poulsbo. Call 360-394-2700. Email poulsbo campus@olympic.edu.

n Vincennes University: Naval Base Kitsap — Bremerton. Contact Jeff Dobson, site director, 120 S. Dewey St., Building 491, Bremerton. 360-478-7202. Email jdobson@vinu.edu.

n Washington State University: Olympic College Poulsbo, 1000 Olympic College Way NW, Poulsbo. Call 360-394-2700. Email poulsbocam pus@olympic.edu.

n Western on the Peninsulas is a satel-lite campus of Western Washington University serving Kitsap, Peninsula and Clallam counties. Western on the Peninsula offers degree and commu-nity programs in Poulsbo, Bremerton and Port Angeles. Currently, bach-elor degrees in business administration, environ-mental science, environ-mental policy, elementary education and human resources are offered. Contact Kathy Johnson, Kathy.johnson@wwu.edu, (360) 394-2733. Located at Olympic College, 1000 Olympic College Way NW, Poulsbo.

KitsapVeteransLife.com: your online news source

12 I VETERANS LIFE | DECEMBER 2015 DECEMBER, @

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

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