Volume 74 Number 4
April 2021
AMI International
Bradley W Orser CPA
Corinthian Wealth Partners
Evergreen Mayflower
Kitsap Golf and Country Club
Kitsap Sun
McClouds Grill House
Navy Museums Northwest
Our Place Pub & Eatery
Puget Sound Navy Museum
Raytheon IDS
Suquamish Clearwater Casino
Let these organizations know
you are aware of and appreciate
their support to Navy League.
Community Affiliates
April 13th Luncheon Zoom Meeting
Captain Christopher Lindberg
Commanding Officer, USS Bremerton
Captain
Christopher
Lindberg
enlisted in the
Navy as a
Nuclear
Mechanic in
1993 and was
selected for the
Enlisted
Commissioning
Program (Nuclear Option) in 1995. He
graduated from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison with a BS in
Mechanical Engineering in 1998.
He was assigned to USS LA JOLLA (SSN
701), in Portsmouth, NH. In 2003,
Captain Lindberg attended Naval
Postgraduate School.Captain Lindberg
reported to USS NEVADA (SSBN 733), as
the Navigator. In August 2008 he
transferred to be the initial manning
Engineering Officer on USS CALIFORNIA
(SSN 781) being built in Newport News,
Virginia. Executive Officer on USS
OLYMPIA (SSN 717) in Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii. In November of 2018 he took
command of the USS Bremerton
President's Corner - David Ellingson
From the President…
We find ourselves today one year after the COVID 19 pandemic began and as we begin the second year, the “second verse” sounds the same as the first, although there
may be some loosening of restrictions. Beginning March 22nd, Kitsap County transitioned to Phase 3 COVID 19 restrictions which will allow restaurants to serve up to 50% capacity. What that actually means as far as resuming our luncheons at the Navy MWR facilities is not known at this time. We are reaching out to MWR to see if we will be able to resume our luncheons. Stay tuned and we will let you know.
Unfortunately, other events planned for later this year have now been canceled. The Navy has announced all in person events through July are canceled including Fleet Week. That news in conjunction with the
decision by the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce to cancel the Armed Forces Week events including the Armed Forces Day Parade in May have made it impossible to hold our annual Navy League Gala again this year. The Senior Enlisted Barbeque scheduled in May has been canceled, but we may be able to schedule it later in the year if a window of opportunity opens.
For our March “luncheon”, we experimented with a hybrid model where a few of the Navy League board members gathered at the Kitsap Golf and Country Club with RADM Blake Converse, Commander Submarines Pacific who was in town and we Zoomed the luncheon events from there. RADM
Converse provided an in-depth presentation of present and future Navy capabilities and threats in the Pacific. This was a rare opportunity for at least a partial in-person briefing for a luncheon.
We also were able to join with the Navy Submarine League on March 3rd to hear from the CO of the USS Washington (SSN 787) home ported in Naval Station Norfolk. Reliance on Zoom for our
luncheons has provided an opportunity for a much broader range of speakers that otherwise would be impossible to schedule.
I must also recognize the excellence of one of our Navy League board members – Mike Spence - as the Navy League National “Advocate of the Month.” Mike works tirelessly to manage our Legislative Affairs and he keep tabs on all government/citizen group activities that may have an adverse impact on Navy operations in the Puget Sound region and beyond. This is a well-deserved recognition for Mike. BZ!
We have begun early planning for the upcoming decommissioning of the USS Bremerton and the future USS Bremerton Memorial.
This month, the Kitsap Great Give, April 20, a 24-hour, online giving event organized by the Kitsap Community Foundation to grow philanthropy in Kitsap County will be held and the Navy League will be included in this year’s fundraising events. Please plan to support the Navy League in this year’s Great Give.
On a sad note, Doug Lent, husband of Navy League board member Patty Lent, passed away suddenly. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Patty and the family during this time.
That is all for now. Thank you all for your support of the Navy League. In the meantime, stay safe. David Ellingson
We Now Participate in Kitsap Great Give
The Bremerton Olympic Peninsula Council of the Navy League of the U.S.
is thrilled to announce the Kitsap Great Give; a day of local giving that
will be held here in Kitsap County on April 20, 2021. A partnership
between Kitsap Community Foundation and local nonprofits, donors
from every neighborhood in our community will come together to raise
significant funds for local needs—all on a single day.
• The Great Give is a big opportunity for our community. This year we’re
joining more than 300 nonprofits across the county to raise millions of
dollars for the greater good.
• Navy League is partnering with area nonprofits, businesses, and
community members to raise funds for local needs. Our giving website
makes it easy, safe and fun to give to organizations already doing
essential work in our community.
• Plus, gifts given April 20th, 2021 will receive a portion of the bonus
funds - your donation of $100 could grow to $110 or more.
• Here are three simple ways you can help:
• Pledge to give
• Spread the word
• Make a gift on April 20
• Contact us for more information, or visit our giving website at :
https://kitsapgreatgive.org/profile/key/8UASWW
COVID 19 Vaccinations for vets at the Silverdale VA
USS Bremerton (SSN 698)
If you have not been able to schedule your COVID 19 Vaccinations
yet, and you are a veteran, you can schedule to receeive
vaccinations in Silverdale at the new VA Office/Clinic at 9177
Ridgetop Blvd NW.
• Call the VA in Seattle to schedule the vaccinations. Make sure you
schedule for Silverdale delivery.
The number to schedule a
vaccine: (206) 716-5716
• Veterans only. Sorry, no dependents unless they were
veterans.
• You must be registered for VA Healthe Care - It's free to
register.
Legislative Affairs Corner
Navy Special Warfare Allowed to Train in Washington State Parks. On 28 January, the Washington State Parks
and Recreation Commission, in a 4 to 3 vote, approved a 5-year permit allowing Naval Special Warfare personnel to train in 17 Washington State Parks. Navy SEALs and Special Boat personnel will be allowed to exercise in State Parks during periods and in areas where public access is restricted. Essentially, this will allow training after dark in “Day Use” areas to prevent military-public interaction. The use of 17 State Parks after dark is less than the Navy had requested. However, it was a substantial increase over the previous permit that expired in 2020 which allowed access to five parks. Northwest Region Navy League Councils played a significant role in making the Parks and Recreation Commission aware of the critical role this training plays in preparing Naval Special Warfare personnel for operations in cold-water regions.
5 Reasons to Support Naval Special Warfare Training in Washington State Parks
1. The Navy identified Puget Sound waters and shoreline property, including unique Washington State Park terrain, as critical to training Naval Special Warfare personnel.
2. Use of Washington States Parks for training by Naval Special Warfare personnel has taken place, under permit granted by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, for many years without environmental harm, incident or adverse interaction with the public.
3. Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Staff personnel have certified that pervious Naval Special Warfare training activities in Washington State Parks resulted in no adverse impact on Washington State Parks environments and no complaints from public park users.
4. The Navy has agreed to all additional Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission-imposed limitations on Naval Special Warfare training activities within designated Washington State Parks based on environmental and public interaction concerns.
5. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will consider a staff report on Naval Special Warfare training in approved Washington State Parks at the end of 2021 to review environmental impact or public interaction.
What you can do!
Send the following statement and any of the above 5 points to Governor Jay Inslee, the Chair of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, and your Washington State Senator and Representative(s).
“I support the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission’s decision to allow Naval Special Warfare personnel to conduct mission essential training in approved Washington State Parks. Training within approved Washington State Parks is critical to the Naval Special Warfare mission and Navy personnel have already proven they can conduct this training without harm to the environment or adverse public
interaction.”
Contact the Governor Governor Jay Inslee Office of the Governor PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002O
Electronic Message: https//www.governor.wa.gov/contact/contact/send-gov-inslee-e-message Contact the Chair of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission:
Michael Latimer
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission P.O. Box 42650
Olympia, WA 98504-2650
