PORT TOWNSEND — An area program to honor those currently serving in the military is gaining more of a local foothold today with the hanging of two Blue Star Banners.
“This is all about showing our appreciation for men and women from the area who are currently on active duty,” said Steve Brunette, a Chimacum resident who is managing the hanging of the two banners at a ceremony today through the Blue Star Banner program.
The Blue Star Banners are usually attached to light poles and include the service person’s name, branch of service and the name of the sponsor.
The program is seeking sponsors, according to Brunette.
“We are hoping to get the community involved and support this effort.”
Sponsorship costs $350 for each banner, which stays in place as long as the person is on active duty.
After discharge, the banner is presented to the named person as a keepsake.
A ceremony honoring Zachary Brunette, Steve Brunette’s son who is now serving in the Navy, and Christian Goodwin, now in the Coast Guard, takes place at 1:30 p.m. today at the corner of state Highways 19 and 20, four miles south of Port Townsend.
Both are 2003 graduates of Chimacum High School, and their banners are sponsored by their families.
Brunette said he is encouraging nonprofits to become sponsors, with the goal of banners posted throughout Jefferson County.
The banners are visible throughout Kitsap County due to its substantial military presence but haven’t yet caught on in Jefferson County, Brunette said.
Currently the only banner in the area is one honoring JW DeLeo, now in the Marines, and is located on Madison Street across from the Port Townsend City Hall. It is sponsored by the Elk’s Club.
Brunette said the banners do not imply a political stand, rather they are to provide recognition for the individual and not support or opposition to a particular military action.
“We are recognizing those who are defending our freedom,” he said.
The Blue Star Banner Program was founded by Lynette George, according to the program’s website, http://bluestarbanner.org.
George is the mother of two sons who had been concurrently serving two tours in Iraq.
She decided to undertake a project to honor military in Kitsap County, but since has expanded the program to other communities in the state.
For more information or to provide a sponsorship, go to http://bluestarbanner.org.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.