Sequim schools honor veterans

When asked to stand if they had a family member or close ties to someone in the military, so many of the students, staff and guests stood that it put the guest speaker in awe.

“I talk all over the country … I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many [audience members] with so many who had … a direct connection to a veteran or a military family,” said Betsy Reed Schultz.

“You’re all part of this caring community,” Schultz, a Gold Star Mom and featured guest at a special Veterans Day assembly for Olympic Peninsula Academy and Dungeness Virtual School students on Nov. 9.

“There is a family behind every soldier, every Marine, every airman, every Coastie, to do their job,” she said. “Part of you being here tells me you’re caring. You believe in America.”

Organized by the Daughters of the American Revolution-Michael Trebert Chapter, the recognition of the national holiday was one of several across Sequim school campuses last week.

Honored guest included those from American Legion and VFW posts, the Military Officers Association of America and Merchant Marine Association.

Local Boy Scout troop members presented colors while Sequim High School choir members offered renditions of the National Anthem and “You’re a Grand Ol’ Flag.”

Ned Floeter, principal for both schools, said veterans serve not only their country but one another.

“There is a type of camaraderie that’s unique to military service,” he said.

After local Boy Scouts helped present various flags representing Armed Forces, prisoners of war and the American flag, Floeter described the impact of the stars and stripes.

“I’ve served all over the world, in many countries … nothing is more impactful to me than to see the United States flag,” he said. “It means that I was home.”

Schultz recalled a conversation with her son, Capt. Joseph Schultz, 36, not long before his tour in Afghanistan in 2011.

Schultz, along with two other soldiers, was killed by an improvised explosive device

“Joseph said, ‘Mom I need you to do a pinky promise before I leave … Mom, you have to promise that you will not die with me. Find the courage again, grieve, but don’t give up your life.’ I didn’t expect to have to call in on that promise.”

Schultz has spent much of the past 11 years turning her former bed-and-breakfast into Captain Joseph House, a respite house for Gold Star Families who’ve lost family members in service of their country.

“My son’s loss is a loss for all of us, but we all support each other,” Schultz said.

The facility, at 1108 S. Oak St. in Port Angeles, welcomed its first families on Oct. 7.

The home, Schultz said last week, is a reality because of a tremendous amount of community support, including about $900,000 in cash donations, $700,000 in in-kind donations and 36,000 volunteer hours.

There are opportunities open for students and local scouts to help as well, she told students.

(For more about Captain Joseph House, visit CaptainJosephHouseFoundation.org, facebook.com/CaptainJosephHouse or call 360-460-7848 or email to CPTJosephHouse@CJHF.org.)

The facility, she said, was built to create new memories, create new traditions, keep what you have but build on it with other families who have served … and have also experienced a loss.”

Said Schultz, “It often takes every bit of me to remember that promise.

“[But] strength comes with bonding and sharing common experiences: good experiences, difficult experiences. Sharing with others is the way we move forward from tragedy.”

Sequim schools superintendent Regan Nickels said she hopes to have the district meet criteria to be Purple Ribbon Schools — a program that is “designed to help schools respond to the educational and social-emotional challenges military-connected children face during their transition to a new school and keep them on track to be college, workforce, and life-ready,” according to the website.

“Veterans Day is … a day off of school, but it’s also a day to remember and acknowledge,” Nickels said.

Betsy Reed Schultz, Gold Star Mom and founder of Captain Joseph House, talks about the “pinky promise” she made to her son, Capt. Joseph Schultz, not long before his 2011 deployment to Afghanistan.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / The Sequim high School choir presents the National Anthem at a Veterans Day ceremony at Olympic Peninsula Academy and Dungeness Virtual School on Nov. 9.

Photo courtesy of Greywolf Elementary School / Students and staff at Greywolf Elementary School honor U.S. Armed Forces veterans at the school’s annual Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 10.

Photo courtesy of Greywolf Elementary School / Savanah Fuller celebrates her grandfather Charlie at Greywolf Elementary School’s annual Veterans Day ceremony, held at the school on Nov. 10.

Photo courtesy of Greywolf Elementary School / Emmelia Henrikson celebrates her grandfather Steve at Greywolf Elementary School’s annual Veterans Day ceremony, held at the school on Nov. 10.